Mashaba is still on a professional football entry-level salary, despite the fact that he is the only player at the club to have broken into Bafana Bafana last season.
KickOff.com has been told that while Mashaba remains very much unhappy about his contract, Stars have also been offered in the region of R2.8million by Bidvest Wits, who have also already promised to more than triple what the 23-year-old is currently earning.
While Stars have so far chosen not to accept Wits' offer, Mashaba is holding out for either a move to Wits or an improved terms on his salary – known to KickOff.com – if he is to stay.
Mashaba missed the season opener on Saturday – ironically against Wits – after choosing not to return to Bethlehem after Stars' MTN8 loss to SuperSport United on August 4.
Apparently when Mashaba arrived at Stars last season – with just two PSL starts from his time at Platinum Stars – he was offered an entry-level contract and given a one-year deal with an option of a further two years, with the first year to be used as a 'test year', in which he had to prove himself.
However, Mashaba's value has shot up, as he has now proven himself beyond any reasonable doubt, after starting 29 games in all competitions last season and breaking into the Bafana set-up.
With that superb showing the club long ago exercised the option of a further two years on the player's contract, on terms that he is unhappy about.
"Mashaba is training in the gym in Jozi," KickOff.com's source says. "The reality of all this is that he wants an improved contract at Stars or a move to Wits with whom he has already agreed an appetising deal, which will greatly improve his life and bring him closer to home.
"He is just unhappy with what he is earning at Stars and feels he has proven himself to get a vastly improved deal at the club.
"Just as much as the Wits deal is way too good to resist, Mashaba will still be happy to stay at Stars if they can also improve terms of his contract."
Several players, such as Mpho Makola, Ayanda Gcaba and Manto Moholo, have just recently chosen to leave Stars, as they were unhappy about what they were earning, while Edward Manqele, now at Mamelodi Sundowns, now earns more than four times what he was getting at Stars.
Your comments on this story...
SAFA should step in
He should have stated that upon proving myself I expect an improved contract as well... desperation to play for Free State blinded him...
Now that he has been at Bafana and rubbed shoulders with bo Shabba who drive Maserati's, peer-pressure has kicked in...
Zane is an exceptional player, I've played with against him, his unbelievable... but he needs to professional, play until January with conditions of a improved salary, otherwise the Dream Team is sure to sign such a talent...
I hear you but clubs do this to many of our players....they take advantage of their desparation....and it very difficult for an unknown player to pick and choose when he is given a chance to play in the PSL further more very few soccer agents care about our players, they are just after money. I agree with you that players need to be professional but how many of them are?.....
Many soccer clubs and agents are exploiting our players.....
You cannot tell me that a player like Manqele can earn four times what he earns regardless where he plays and that should sit well with this player.....his last season team mates are now at Orlando Pirates earning obviouly not the so called entry level salary....peer presure will kick in......Wits want to give him more....he has proven himself. ?..at 23 he is no longer a youngster...football is a short career.....I think there is more into this story tan it reads...football politics.....
Lets wait and see how this turn out.
No doubt clubs exploit... but the clubs call it risk aversion & financially protecting themselves should the said player be a disappointment... Semantics obviously....
What I'm afraid of is that Zane is on the brink of being a SuperStar in this country after his rookie season but for him to start making demands & throwing his toys is not the way to go... he'll be tagged as a trouble-maker thus stifling his opportunity to play either for The Dream Team, Kaizer Chiefs or Sundowns.... and this is where we want to see the boy play... should his performances drop as well, that's will make things worse as he will be cast in the shadows... we have seem this with Sewahla, Zongo, & many more....
It's time these players behaved like professionals.
That's a keen & good observation...!
If 2.8m annually is 3 times what he earns now, making it 900k annually.... Getting about 70k a month doesn't even scratch the surface of exploitation...!
Who's fooling who.... this is why running to the media & sorting issues through that sort of a forum is I'll-advised..
The minimum salary in the PSL is R10,000.00, I stand to be corrected.