Yannick Zakri has not returned to Maritzburg United after the brief Christmas holiday and is now considered in breach of his contract with new coach Muhsin Ertugral saying he wants nothing to do with it.
The Ivory Coast international‚ brought to South Africa with much fanfare by Pitso Mosimane at Mamelodi Sundowns but who quickly proved erratic and was soon dropped‚ joined Maritzburg just after the start of this season on a free transfer.
He had been on loan at Ajax Cape Town for the second half of last season‚ ironically brought in by Ertugral.
But the coach‚ whose first game in charge of Maritzburg saw them lose 2-0 at Lamontville Golden Arrows on Saturday‚ says he does not want him.
“I have to say it … this is not the behaviour of a professional‚” Ertugral said.
“If you don’t respect your contract‚ how are you expected then to behave when you are at the club?”
The maverick Zakri‚ who is presumed to have gone back to his home country‚ has had previous disciplinary issues and Ertugral said it was a pity he was wasting his talent.
“He could play for any team in the world‚ that is how talented he is. Maybe over talented!
“He has played in France and with hard work he could have got himself back to Europe.
“Last season he played six or seven really key games for me at Ajax‚ so I know what he is capable of.
“But what he doesn’t realise is that your football career is over in the blink of an eye and he is now really wasting his talent.”
Ertugral‚ who has asked his new club to find him a new striker‚ added: “I cannot accept this kind of behaviour”.
Maritzburg are now entitled to cancel Zakri’s contract with the new coach adamant that even if he arrives back in the next days‚ he does not want him around.
Ertugral’s debut on Sunday as the club’s new coach failed to produce the hoped for turn around with as Maritzburg remaining firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.
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