Source: Daily_Mail
Get out of Africa! Wright and Premier League stars warned over poaching
Ian Wright and six Premier League stars are involved in an academy that has been accused of 'raping' South Africa of its talent by the country's most senior football official.[LNB]Raymond Hack, the chief executive of the South African Football Association, says Wright, Mart Poom, Julio Arca, Stephen Warnock, Alex Song, Danny Collins and Mamady Sidibe have invested their money in a controversial venture in Cape Town. [LNB] [LNB]The players have put money in Africa Soccer Developments, a company that has formed a soccer academy - under the umbrella of a new football club called Cape United FC - in Cape Town.[LNB] Controversial: Ian Wright and George Eastham celebrate the opening of the academy[LNB]The company claims it has done nothing wrong, and has purely altruistic motives. [LNB]However, while the men running the academy insist the players have invested with the best intentions, Wright, Poom and the current Premier League stars will receive 40 per cent of the fee if the players are transferred to Europe.[LNB]At a time when English clubs are coming under fire for the tactics they employ in signing young players, Hack has torn into this Britishrun academy in Cape Town.[LNB] [LNB]'You can't go into a country, rape the country, and then run away,' said Hack.[LNB]'I have never heard of them, and they have certainly not been endorsed by SAFA.'[LNB]Investment: Mamady Sidibe is one of six Premier League players to put their money into a controversial venture in Cape Town[LNB]Xolile Madikane, who has spent 10 years coaching at the Cape Rose soccer academy in the township of Guguletu, branded it 'neo-colonialism'.[LNB]He said: 'I saw Ian Wright on the TV when he came to launch the academy when it opened in April. They are just picking up all the best players and are going to sell them like merchandise to the highest bidder.[LNB]'It is like the old days of British colonialism. What good is this doing for the townships of South Africa? They are taking the best players out and putting nothing back in.'[LNB]Work permit restrictions would almost certainly prevent these young players moving directly to England but the same rules would not prevent them from moving to a major European club outside this country.[LNB]And across Europe the transfer of teenage footballers has become an extremely contentious issue, with clubs in France and Italy reporting Chelsea and Manchester United for signing up their young players.[LNB]Only last week Chelsea were banned until January 2011 from signing players after FIFA found them guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens, while Le Havre have accused United of an almost identical breach of regulations over Paul Pogba.[LNB]Everton were ordered by an FA tribunal on Monday to pay Leeds United as much as £1million for Luke Garbutt, 16, who switched to Goodison Park in the summer.[LNB] SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: The rape of Africa - 'These academies will bleed our continent dry of talent'Manchester United threaten Le Havre with legal action as club linked with Caen midfielder Regis EtariCrewe director of football Dario Gradi slams pursuit of Max ClaytonTribunal backs Ken Bates: Everton could pay Leeds up to £1million for Luke Garbutt[LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People:Mart Poom, Danny Collins, Ian Wright, Alex Song, George EasthamPlaces:Cape Town, Italy, South Africa, France, United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, Goodison Park
