Celtic out of race for Eymael?

Free at last…Polokwane City have agree to part ways with coach Luc Eymael who is credited with transforming the club into a formidable unit

The two parties met for the first time this week since Eymael returned to the club last month to discuss the way forward

Bloemfontein Celtic might just be out of the race for coach Luc Eymael’s signature if Platinum Stars have it their way.

It emerged this week that Dikwena, after unceremoniously showing their former coach, Cavin Johnson the exit door, have officially declared their desire to get Eymael to lead the team next season.

Eymael has officially parted ways with his former employers, Polokwane City who made the Belgium born coach’s life a living hell after joining Bloemfontein Celtic while still contracted to them.

Polokwane City boss, Johnny Mogaladi confirmed to The Weekly yesterday that both the club and former coach had agreed on ‘the way forward’.

The two parties met for the first time this week since Eymael returned to the club last month to discuss the way forward. “Yes, we met and had a lengthy discussion about what transpired and both parties expressed their views,” said Mogaladi in an interview.

The chair added that his initial position to contest the former coaches departure was the correct one as he (Eymael) was still contracted to the club.

“Contrary to popular belief, there was absolutely nothing wrong with how we acted. Eymael was still contracted to us, as it’s the case now and for him to up and leave as if there was no contractual obligation between us was totally wrong and even he has admitted to that during our discussion.

“Just because you and I don’t see eye to eye on team matters doesn’t give you the right to up and leave as if we are boyfriend and girlfriend whereas we’re in a marriage and tied for a certain period of time. It doesn’t work that way,” cited Mogaladi.

He confirmed that the team will be going into the market for a new coach ahead of the season, saying it didn’t make sense to retain Eymael under the current circumstances; he reiterated that the Belgian mentor was one of the best coaches tactically and that it was unfortunate the two had to part ways.

“You can’t force someone to do something if he doesn’t want to, the consequences would be disastrous,” said Mogaladi who added that going separate ways was in the best interests of the team.
Eyamel’s contract with the team was due to end next year June.

However, teams interested in Eymael’s signature will have to engage with Mogaladi first, something he said was agreed upon by both parties. “I will not stop him from working for other teams, however we did agree that any team that is interested in his services will engage with us so that we agree on the terms before realising him.”

Asked whether Bloemfontein Celtic had reached out to him for the services of the coach they once vowed to go heaven and earth for, Mogaladi said: “I’ve heard nothing from those people.”

“The only people that I have officially spoken to are Platinum Stars and we’re expected to have a meeting with them soon, no one else apart from them.”

Attempts to get hold of Celtic CEO Khumbulane Konco proved fruitless as his phone rang unanswered. However, sources close to the team told the paper that it was not certain whether the team will still pursue Eymael as head coach.

“It’s uncertain now if they will still want him to coach the team. But he (Eymael) is still Max Tshabalala’s preference to lead the team in a different direction,” the source said.

Previously City had demanded a whopping R2-million for Eymael’s services.