BANNED: Bloemfontein Celtic remain banned from signing players next season

Bloemfontein Celtic will have their two-transfer window ban from FIFA come into play during the coming transfer window, after failing to settle on a reported R3 Million owed to former keeper Patrick Tignyemb.

Tignyemb left Celtic in 2018

The Cameroon-born shot-stopper had been a long term servant of the Bloemfontein-based PSL side and had become the darling of the club’s vociferous crowd. It then came as a surprise when Celtic released the veteran in 2018, as he sought greener pastures at Chippa United. Tignyemb had stated that the situation at Celtic at that time had pushed him towards the exit door.

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That marked the end of an 11-year stay at Siwelele but perhaps in not the circumstances any of the parties would’ve envisaged. In years gone by Celtic have stated that they had an agreement in place with Tignyemb, and had already paid the keeper two out of the promised four instalments.

Speaking to Kickoff.com about the situation surrounding Tignyemb and Celtic Precious Ogbah who is the head of Sports Law (Africa) at Activity Chambers out in Nigeria offered more clarity.

“A long time ago Celtic came up with a proposal for payment in instalments and we rejected it outright because if we agreed to that and they default we cannot go back to FIFA. So, they have not made any payment and if they had FIFA expects them to send proof of payment. I can tell you that they haven’t paid a dime and the interest keeps piling up every day,” she said

Celtic are said to be lying about the payments

She went on to dispute Celtic’s claims that they have made those two payments

“If they claim they have been making payments they better look for these accounts because it is definitely not Patrick’s account. We sent them Patrick’s account in Cameroon because he is no longer in South Africa. Previously, we sent them the South African account when he was still in South Africa and then as soon as he left, we wrote to them warning them not to use the South African account anymore and gave them an account in Cameroon. They cannot make that silly mistake of using the South African account because we advised them in advance. As of two to three weeks, they wrote saying they are working on it and if they have made payment then they should have proof of payment.

“They (Celtic) are lying, and they know it because they risk even putting the FA (SAFA) in trouble because if the federation (SAFA) doesn’t implement this transfer ban then they risk being banned. If they don’t pay every penny then they will not be able to make any transfer signings. The dates by which they were meant to have paid this money have passed hence the transfer ban becoming effective in the next window. Bottom line is that we don’t have any payment agreement with them,” she concluded.

Ban still stands

It is believed that SAFA has already been made aware of this development by FIFA.