Igesund glad it’s all over

Advocate Norman Arendse, who led the investigation, cleared Igesund on Thursday on the allegations that he had tried to influence players to strike for bonuses on the eve of the African Nations Championship (Chan).

Arendse also cleared Igesund on the allegations that agents had an undue influence on the selection of players.

Safa president Danny Jordaan revealed that Igesund would have been fired had he been found guilty of these allegations. Now he will remain in his job, taking Bafana Bafana to Australia and New Zealand next month, until the assessment of his work by Safa is done.

That will determine his future with the national team after his contract has expired.

“These allegations were made by people, and they like to sell newspapers,” Igesund said.

“I am just glad that it’s all over now and I can be able to move on from it. The people who did this have to live with their own conscience. They can take a guy and try to destroy him under no foundation.

“It’s not acceptable. I have always said that the truth will come out. The truth sets you free.

“I just get disappointed that people can go to such lengths all the time without any foundation to try and destroy you. It’s unfair. But it’s over now.”

But the entire truth didn’t come out with some players not testifying in front of Arendse, including captain Itumeleng Khune who was reported to be a key player in this case.

Arendse couldn’t subpoena people to appear before him, all those who did, did so voluntarily.

“I am satisfied though with what we uncovered even though there are people who didn’t testify,” Arendse said.

Arendse also came up with five recommendations for Safa to take forward to ensure that similar things would not happen in the future.

They include making sure that agents and the national team don’t stay in the same hotel, that the issues of bonuses are handled diligently in time, and that the national team coach shouldn’t be represented by a player’s agent.