Free State Cheetahs winger Lionel Mapoe faces an uncertain future after failing to return to Bloemfontein after losing his contractual dispute with his provincial team.

SuperSport

Mapoe, who was the subject of an arbitration hearing in Bloemfontein last weekend after he requested a move from the Cheetahs to the Sharks and his union refused, was dealt a blow last week when the hearing ruled in favour of the Cheetahs and ordered him to rejoin his team.

The winger had been training in Durban illegally with the Sharks while still under contract to the Cheetahs and has not arrived back at the Bloemfontein base of the team.

The Cheetahs will now consider “other options” according to Free State President Harold Verster, and Mapoe may find himself facing a monetary claim for the breach of contract.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske confirmed to SuperSport.com that Mapoe had not arrived.

“He hasn’t reported as we expected and we have had no word as to when he will get here,” Drotske told SuperSport.com.

“Lionel was supposed to report to us already, but we have no idea when that will happen.”

Verster added that a letter had been issued to the player to demand he presents himself to honour his contract.

“We have sent the letter out and if he doesn’t comply, then we will have to look at other options. I can’t say at this moment what these are, but we will consider them if the situation presents itself.”

Mapoe wasn’t available for comment but his agent, Jan-Harm van Wyk told SuperSport.com he was waiting word from the Sharks as to the next step.

“There isn’t much new to report, Lionel doesn’t want to go back to Bloemfontein. I’m waiting to see what will happen next but he will probably have to present himself at the Cheetahs at some stage. The Sharks will be getting back to me soon on how they see the future now that the arbitration has been completed.”

Either way Mapoe, who was due to play again last week after overcoming injury, may well be on the sidelines until his contract runs out at the end of next year if he doesn’t sort this out soon.

13 Responses to Mapoe still not back in Blingfontein

  • 1

    Aag laat die blikslaer gaan….demmit, hy gaan nou net die span verder aftrek met sy slapgat-geit. Ek kan verstaan die vent nie happy is oor sy geld nie, maar hy was close to nobody to hy geteken het, en nou ewe skielik skyn die son uit sy agterwereld en demand hy meer. Kontrak is daar vir n rede, maar as hy nie happy is nie, laat sy nuwe club toe om hom af te koop…..en good riddance.

  • 2

    He has learn’t from SARU, he is keeping his options open, was seen at the Bulls head quarters, the promised him a Cayenne

  • 3

    Interesting scenario, just exactly what does the Cheetahs do if Mapoe continues to refuse to pitch up?

    Do they sue him for pecuniary damages on the grounds of breach of Agreement and/or terminate the Agreement?

    That is exactly what Mapoe wants, for the Cheetahs to terminate the Agreement, then he’s a free agent and ready to sign for anybody.

    I would do it differently if I was the Cheetahs… I would bring formal complaints against Mapoe with SARU and the IRB, for bringing the game into disrepute…. Judgment here, if found guilty, could be as harsh as a permanent ban from rugby or a total barring from contracting with the Sharks on a future date. This is now a case of blatant abscontion and if that is not bringing the game into disrepute, what is? At the lightest Mapoe will be ordered to report back to the Cheetahs, failing which some additional measures might come into contention… sort of like a suspended sentence.

    There are many ways to kill a cat….

  • 4

    @ grootblousmile:

    Is dit nou die Regsgeleerde wat in jou uitkom meneer?

  • 5

    4@ biltongbek:
    Ja…. as Regsgeleerde word mens gewoond om uit die boks te dink… om skaak baie effektief te speel.

    Dis ‘n ander flippen onderwêreld, daai van die prokurowers….

    Jy sien, Mapoe speel nou die game clever… hy dink hy gaan die Staat anyway laat kapituleer…. so flok hom man, hy het nie respek vir die Arbiter se beslissing nie…

  • 6

    @ grootblousmile:

    Wel as jy mooi daaraan dink, kan ek nou vir jou se, een of ander skerp seun het vir hom die advies gegee.

    Ek wil nou nie vr Sharky e sy trawante kwaad maak nie, maar hy sou nie self daaraan gedink het nie.

  • 7

    @ biltongbek: rofl…true dat

  • 8

    6@ biltongbek:
    Nee verseker het sy Regspan hom adviseer en gesê, kom ons maak so en kyk of die Cheetahs se balle te pap is om jou aan te vat…

  • 9

    @ grootblousmile: GBS…hy is seker op n sloer staking en het besluit om terug te stap Bloem toe. Dit beteken hy is oppad, hy is net so beitjie laat…trek seker nou iewers nabe Warden of Bethlehem…sal seker in Bloem wees einde volgende week 🙂

  • 10

    9@ bos_otter:
    Kyk, ek dink nie Mapoe gaan veel werd wees vir die Staat nie, sy hart is nie daar nie… maar die punt is dat hulle nou die perke duidelik moet stel vir ander wat dieselfde kak wil try… nie net by hulle nie maar by elke ander Unie.

    Mapoe is besig om vir homself ‘n moooosa klomp deure toe te slaan….

  • 11

    @ bos_otter:

    Bos, hy kan altyd die verskoning gebruik dat hy die taxi gemis het. dit werk by enige ander “job” so.

  • 12

    Iemand betaal steeds Mapoe se rekeninge daar in Deben…. as ek die Cheetahs was, was daar so paar surprises vir daai skuldiges ook…..

  • 13

    @ grootblousmile: Ja GBS…is waar wat jy se…hy doen homself geen gunse nie, ek ep persoonlike sal nie n ou in span wou he wat se hart nie daar is nie….hy kan ons die game kos as hy beslluit om nasty te raak.

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