Former Black Leopards striker Bethuel Muzeu has finally received clearance from his former club, allowing Sekhukhune United to register him. The dispute stemmed from a transfer agreement reached by Sekhukhune while believing Muzeu was a free agent, after Black Leopards were relegated to the ABC Motsepe League.
Clearance granted
A source confirmed that Muzeu has since received his clearance from Black Leopards, paving the way for his registration. "He has received his clearance from Black Leopards. I think he is sorted now. Leopards wanted to negotiate with Sekhukhune for his clearance, but he has it now," the source explained. "It's not like Leopards were refusing to give him his clearance, but they needed to have an agreement with Sekhukhune for some reason - it was club-to-club. I don't know if they've had an agreement, but he can be registered, as he has his clearance," the source added.
Impact on Sekhukhune
Head coach Cedric Kaze said at the MTN press conference in Randburg on Thursday that Muzeu would not be available for the upcoming MTN8 semi-final first-leg clash against Orlando Pirates, but he remained hopeful of a resolution in the coming weeks. "About Muzeu, unfortunately he is not available yet due to administrative issues but we hope in the next coming weeks his case will be resolved," Kaze said.
Sekhukhune will now be able to include the Namibian forward in their squad as they prepare for three consecutive matches against Orlando Pirates, including a Betway Premiership fixture, within a period of just over a week.
Background on Leopards
The root of the dispute was that Sekhukhune reached a transfer agreement with Leopards while under the impression that Muzeu was a free agent. Black Leopards were relegated to the ABC Motsepe League at the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, which technically rendered all their players free agents, as the club no longer falls under the NSL - the top two divisions.
Leopards are still disputing their relegation to the ABC Motsepe League, pointing fingers at the PSL after administrative chaos that saw several of their players’ registrations withheld by the League over a perceived FIFA transfer ban. As a result, Lidoda Duvha played the first few matches of the campaign without a full complement of their squad, a factor that contributed to their eventual demotion.
The resolution of Muzeu’s clearance marks a significant step for Sekhukhune United as they look to strengthen their squad for the remainder of the season.
