Baroka FC chairman Khurishi Mphahlele has set the record straight regarding the absence of his latest signing, Gift Motupa, from the club.
Following his struggles to find employment, Motupa, who had been released by Mamelodi Sundowns, signed for Baroka in February.
Since his arrival, he has not played a single minute for the Motsepe Foundation Championship club due to a persistent groin injury.
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With his short-term contract expected to only end next month, Motupa will continue receiving his salary from Baroka as he is still on their books.
Mphahlele admits that the Limpopo-born star will not kick a ball for the club this season.
Baroka are currently in third place on the standings and look on course to book a place in the 2023/24 Play-Offs.
"Gift Motupa has not left the club.
"It's just that at the moment he has stopped training, he's got a groin problem," Mphahlele tells KickOff.
"He is still very much part of the club, it's just that he is unable to play at the moment.
"Chances of seeing him in the Baroka colours next season are very big, but once he heals I'm sure he will start training.
"We will renegotiate for next season. At the moment, he has signed for short-term, we just hope he will heal. But for this season he is out.
"The remaining games are our last throw of the dice to go to the play-offs. Motupa could have helped us a lot if it wasn't for the injury.
"With him at full fitness, I'm sure we could be talking a different story, but we understand what happened has happened.
"Complaining about it or crying about [it] will not help us now, we must just look into the future," says the club boss.
Mphahlele also reveals they are working hard to ensure the team's return to the elite division next season.
"It has always been our aim to win every match we play, but things don't always go the way you planned.
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"We plan to win all our remaining matches, including the play-offs. We are working hard day and night, we are not resting.
"And we are not going to rest because we love this sport, we are servants of this sport. We must do it for our province, for our supporters and for sponsors."
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