Gilstrap ‘e-mails United from the U.S.’
09 Mar 2009
MISSING Maritzburg United keeper Hunter Gilstrap has finally contacted Maritzburg United.

Gilstrap, who went awol last week when he failed to turn up for a disciplinary hearing, has e-mailed United from his home country, America.

The goalkeeper, who was to appear in front of a club DC after letting in five goals in United’s 5-2 Premier Soccer League defeat against Lamontville Golden Arrows in Chatsworth on Saturday, February 12, and showing the finger to United fans after the game, left his flat on the following Wednesday.

The club had charged Gilstrap with not showing enough effort against Arrows, and unsporting conduct for his post-match gesture.

“I received an e-mail from Hunter, who said he was back in America,” United chairman Farouk Kadodia said at the end of last week.

“He indicated that he just could not stay for the hearing, and needed to get back to his home country.”

Gilstrap, who had an open ticket to return to the U.S. given to him by United, still has a year-and-a-half left on his contract with the PMB team.

“Hunter said [in his e-mail] that he was not aware that he needs an international transfer clearance to join another team, and asked if we could supply it,” Kadodia said. “We have referred the matter to Safa and said if any club wants to sign Gilstrap on then we will be willing to negotiate a fee.”

United’s next game, following their 2-1 away league defeat of Bay United and 3-2 home Nedbank Cup victory over Thanda Royal Zulu on Sunday, is their PSL meeting against Santos at Woodburn Stadium on Saturday (3.30 pm), and not tomorrow as was reported in The Witness yesterday.

The team’s rained-out league match against Wits University has been rescheduled to Wednesday, March 18 at Woodburn, also at 3.30 pm. Tickets from the rained-out game will still be valid.