Bucs scupper Ndulula's Israel dream

The former Under-23 international was tipped to head to Israel this week, but according to his agent, Tim Sukazi of Quality Talent Sports, this is for the second time in the space of 12 months that Ndulula had had an opportunity in Europe denied.

In January last year Westerlo wanted him on loan with an option to buy, but Pirates did not give him permission to go to Belgium.

"We haven't received permission from Pirates to let ‘Drogba' go to Israel," Sukazi tells KickOff.com. "Unfortunately we were given a time limit at which we had to obtain permission from Pirates and we haven't succeeded.

"The Israeli club has its own program and had scheduled time this week to have a look at the boy. To this end, they postponed his flight ticket on two occasions to allow us more time to obtain authorisation from Pirates."

When pressed for reasons for Pirates' failure to give permission, Sukazi says: "From our side, we've done everything under all given circumstances to get the boy to Europe, but seemingly it was not meant to be."

He adds: "Drogba is contracted to Pirates until June 2013. If anything has to happen on his future prior to the expiry of his contract, Pirates has to authorise that move, failing which he will remain their player up to the end of his contract.

"From our side, we would like to see him getting game-time elsewhere because it is not in his best interests to watch football from the stands as is currently happening."

In response, Bucs spokesperson Mickey Modisane says his club's offices in Johannesburg will only re-open tomorrow.

"I don't know who they might have spoken to, but our offices only re-open tomorrow. That's the best time to discuss the issue of players in the team."