sportskeeda
Christmas became a regrettable event for Siyethemba Sithebe, as his contract with Richards Bay was rescinded.
The club suspended the player following accusations of disrespectful conduct towards coaches in the dressing room after a loss to SuperSport United.
Although Sithebe did not participate in the match, he allegedly entered the dressing room afterward and had a confrontation with the coaching staff. This altercation led to his suspension and the subsequent cancellation of his contract.
Richards Bay initiated disciplinary actions against Sithebe; however, he opted not to attend the hearing based on the guidance of his agent, Musa Sithebe.
Club chairman Sifiso Biyela communicated to Sportswire: “We aim to model our approach like that of Stellenbosch, underscoring the importance of certain players in nurturing our younger talents.”
“This is why we brought in Sithebe and Thabiso Kutumela; we expect them to mentor the younger players. A failure to exhibit proper behavior extends beyond football itself.”
“We suffered a difficult loss against SuperSport despite controlling much of the game. When discussions turn to physical confrontations and insults directed at coaches, it indicates a serious breakdown in team cohesion, making it impossible for harmony to exist.”
“As senior players, your responsibility is to support the team, recognizing their efforts and pointing out missed chances, like a failed penalty, to uplift and show effective leadership.”
“We have players like Kutumela, who have been sidelined for several matches, yet maintain a consistently positive attitude. Their commitment in training remains steadfast.”
“We clearly defined their roles even before signing them during the off-season, detailing our expectations for them at this club. Thus, we cannot condone any behavior that undermines our coaches’ authority, particularly as we fight against relegation, as this could set a dangerous precedent.”
“The termination of the contract was not a random decision; he was called to the Disciplinary Committee (DC) meeting and admitted he needed to attend. Ultimately, he acknowledged it because we had to seek legal guidance. We were managing this situation externally.”
“At this point, I cannot specify who our legal representative was at the club. On the day of the DC meeting, he informed us that he had been advised by his uncle and agent (Musa Sithebe) against attending.”
“We have all the statements supporting the events. Unfortunately, our team consists of 28 players, and we cannot allow any player to show disrespect to our coaches.”
Biyela, who was recently elected to the PSL Executive Committee for the next four years, expressed his deep disappointment in Sithebe’s actions.
“We brought him in to fulfill certain responsibilities,” he said.
“I faced a dilemma: either risk losing more players by disturbing the entire locker room dynamic or part ways with one player, leading us to decide to terminate Sithebe’s contract.”
“Furthermore, we must recognize that this player is a role model for the younger team members.”
Sithebe joined Richards Bay at the start of the current season after being released by Kaizer Chiefs. During his brief tenure with the Natal Rich Boys, he made a total of eight appearances across all competitions.
