When two parents forked out more than R80,000 to a soccer coach who promised to turn their sons into the next South African superstars, they did so with confidence.
But now they want him red-carded, their money returned and the man thrown in jail. They say the coach's promises missed the goals.
Elphus Shai paid Limpopo coach Vuyisile Mbatha R60,000 for flights, visa applications and accommodation after he promised that he could help Shai's 14-year-old son, Shaun, realise his dream of pursuing a career with a Canadian soccer academy, First Mobile, in July.
A second parent, Mmarena Jele, 52, has accused Mbatha of swindling her out of R26,000 for her son Eddy, 16, to go for soccer trials in England in August.
After paying the money, nothing happened for either boy.
Shai said Shaun was one of eight boys who was chosen for First Mobile's squad to play in the 2017 Gothia World Youth Cup in Sweden in July.
Mbatha, who was Shaun's coach at Molemole Academy in Polokwane, offered to facilitate the transfer to Canada.
"Vuyani appeared helpful and advised us to move my kid to Gauteng in order to get him better training facilities," said Shai.
"He forwarded us correspondence from the Canada academy and arranged that fees go to his account and he would do the rest on our behalf."
Shai said he paid the money and even appointed Mbatha as Shaun's guardian for the period they would be abroad.
He said he and Jele soon realised the trips were bogus. He made inquiries with the Canadian embassy and found no trace of his son's application to travel abroad.
Further checks revealed that the plane tickets they were given were fake. They were then told by the academy that Mbatha had said the parents had not paid the money."He scammed us," said Shai. "There were four boys. I don't know about the other parents, but I want my money. The guy took advantage of us. He is a fraudster. He took our money for himself. I've got proof of transactions."
Shai said that after months of dodging his calls, Mbatha agreed to meet and make a payment at a soccer game in Soweto in September. He drove 400km to the game, but Mbatha didn't meet him.
Instead, he called to say he would pay 50% of the money the next day.
Mbatha refused to answer questions from the Sunday Times.
In a copy of an affidavit supplied to the Sunday Times, stamped November 3 at Dobsonville police station, Mbatha acknowledged "receiving money by fraud from Shai Elphus".
The affidavit stated: "I further made threats when asked about it. I have arranged to make payment as follows. First payment will be made on the 15-11-2017, the second and last payment will be made at the end of November 2017. I will stop making all forms of insults to the Shai family."
Jele, who is unemployed, said her son Eddy met Mbatha at Task College in Johannesburg where he initially played with Shai's son before moving to another club.
She said Mbatha called to say Eddy was going to England in August for trials...