Imagine Manchester United developing players and then when they are ready to take the next step of their career, they get sold to Manchester City. Imagine Boca Juniors receiving several offers from different clubs for their star player, and then they choose to send him to River Plate. Imagine Glasgow Celtic selling most of their players to Glasgow Rangers than to any of the other clubs in the Scottish Premiership. Imagine, imagine, imagine. Down in the southernmost part of Africa, however, in Tshwane to be specific, the regular transfer of players from the one rival to the other is not unheard of. More and more these days, it seems a foregone conclusion that at least one player per season will make the move from SuperSport United to mega-rich neighbours Mamelodi Sundowns, something that has invited a lot of scrutiny from observers. How could rival sides be 'in bed with each other', so to speak? That's the big question. Is the one outfit becoming a feeder team to the other? The most recent deal of winger Thapelo Maseko leaving Matsatsantsa to go to Chloorkop, in what is understood to be a lucrative five-year contract, has reignited the debate, and the Siya crew therefore takes a closer look at the curious relationship between the two foes. Matsatsantsa CEO Stan Matthews offers his take!
What The Siya Crew Has Been Told…
After months of speculation and denials all round, Mamelodi Sundowns announced the arrival of Thapelo Maseko from SuperSport United on 18 July. The 20-year-old had enjoyed a breakout season under coach Gavin Hunt, who breathed new life into the Tshwane outfit having returned in July last year.
As reported by Soccer Laduma, it took a fee of around €1 million (±R19.5 million) plus Grant Margeman to seal the deal for the junior international to switch allegiances in the capital.
There was confirmed interest for his services from Belgian top-flight side KVC Westerlo, who had made three reported approaches for the speedy winger, but the offers did not meet the Randburg-based side's evaluation of the player, though CEO Stan Matthews did later admit that there was a marginal difference between the Westerlo and Downs offers; however, it was the Brazilians' personal package to Maseko that blew their European counterparts out of the water.
In return for losing their star player, SuperSport replenished their side with eight new players (two of whom are Sundowns players in Margeman and Etiosa Ighodaro (on loan) – which suggests that the loss suffered by Matsatsantsa is not as bad as initially anticipated.
"It's about what I need to do to make the team more competitive. And yeah, you can say I'm grooming for my rivals. You could say I'm grooming for South African football. But the most important thing I'm doing is, I'm grooming for the club because the resources that we managed to get from those two deals enabled me to go and get Ronald (Pfumbidzai), (Abdulrazak) Hamza and Margeman and (Siphesihle) Ndlovu and (Terrence) Dzvukamanja, (Phathutshedzo) Nange and Ighodaro. Now, is the team stronger with those six players than the two I let go? That's the question. And the answer is yes, the team is stronger. I have more depth, I have experience. I have players that I own. So, I think we've moved the club forward," Matthews told this publication at the club's announcement of their partnership with TUT Ladies team.
The Siya crew spoke to a prominent agent, who, for obvious reasons, will anonymous, and the agent delved into the dynamic of the relationship between the two outfits.
"There has been a transfer of two things here in this relationship – money and power. Money in a sense that SuperSport have been able to keep the club afloat, even during COVID-19 and when other clubs were capitulating around them, thanks to the funds they have brought in for their players who have gone to Sundowns. Let's be honest, the club have gone from exporting players to Europe to selling them a few kilometers away for millions of rands. As much as it is criticized, it is a business model that works for them, especially because they know that they are constantly producing the next best player – and essentially Sundowns' next big target.
"Sundowns, in as much as they have filled SuperSport's coffers, have gained power in terms of silverware. SuperSport used to be South Africa's cup specialists, but it has been years since they last won a trophy. And Sundowns? They have swept up all and sundry and have even gone on to establish themselves as a continental powerhouse, a lot of it due to the strategic transfers that they have made from SuperSport. You can say that it is a win-win situation for both teams," the agent revealed.
What Are The Facts?
Twenty players, in Paul Evans, Lerato Chabangu, Elias Pelembe, Siboniso Gaxa, Mame Niang, Calvin Marlin, Katlego Mphela, Lungisani Ndlela, Anthony Laffor, Bryce Moon, Denis Onyango, Tebogo Langerman, Reyaad Pieterse, Jeremy Brockie, Aubrey Modiba, Grant Kekana, Teboho Mokoena, Sipho Mbule, Ronwen Williams and now Maseko, have all moved from Super-Sport to Downs over the years.
It hasn't been one-way traffic either. A number of players, dating back to Japie Motale, Themba Mnguni, Linda Buthelezi, the late Oscar Ntwagae, Phelelani Mpangase, David Kannemeyer, Brent Carelse, Andre Arendse, Thabang Sibanyoni, Khayelihle Shozi, Bangaly Soumahoro, Lucky Mohomi, Sibusiso Khumalo, George Lebese, Ricardo Goss, Margeman, Sifiso Ngobeni, Mogakolodi Ngele, Mario Booysen, Dove Wome, Innocent Mdledle, Franklin Cale, Mabhudi Khenyeza, Chabangu, Dario Monteiro and Ighodaro, have moved from the Brazilians to Matsatsantsa, many of them loan deals for players who were deemed surplus to requirements at the star-studded outfit. Nowhere in the world has it been seen that so many players have moved between two direct rivals!
What's In It For Sundowns?
The Tshwane giants, despite their best efforts in recent years, are not known for their ability to produce players, although they have made major strides in recent times as seen with the likes of Cassius Mailula and Siyabonga Mabena. However, their financial muscle has given them the ability to purchase players directly from their rivals at will and more so from SuperSport.
More often than not, according to Matthews, the Brazilians have the resources to outbid even the biggest of European teams for targets. The likes of Mokoena, Williams and Maseko had serious interest from abroad in their services. However, Sundowns managed to snatch the trio from SuperSport – an indication of their financial muscle backed by the wealthy Motsepe family.
The result? Resounding success. Sundowns have, in the last 10 years, lifted more than 16 trophies, including the elusive CAF Champions League title in 2016, many of which have included players purchased from Matsatsantsa, an indication that the club's substantial investments from their neighbours have yielded results.
How SuperSport Are Benefitting…
Matsatsantsa historically have prided themselves on being one of the PSL's best-run clubs administratively and financially. Despite being backed by MultiChoice, the COVID-19 pandemic tested the side's resolve where rumours of a club sale emerged, especially after they had lost some of their sponsors, such as Engen and Showmax, thereafter, although the club moved swiftly to deny these rumours.
They have been able to remain financially afloat thanks to the crucial sale of Modiba in the 2020/21 season. More sales, like the one of captain Williams, have followed, which has helped generate revenue for the club and open new avenues in terms of player recruitments, It is an open secret that Sundowns have the ability to change players' circumstances financially. Matthews admits that in the case of Maseko, despite a marginal difference in the offer between the Brazilians and Belgian outfit Westerlo, their Tshwane rivals' personal package offer to the youngster by far exceeded that of their European counterparts.
"It would have been stunning and amazing to keep Maseko for another year. I wanted to keep him for another year, and if you are asking me, was it a good move for Maseko? I don't think it was a good move for myself, and I told Maseko I don't think it's a good move for him because I don't think he's gonna get the game-time at Sundowns that he got for me. But you know the player has to look at his life and say, how does his contract change his life? And it changed his life to a really huge extent for him and his family and it changed my club, to a huge extent, to be able to bring in six
players.
"Westerlo would not have paid Maseko what Sundowns paid Maseko. And the money that I got from Sundowns was honestly marginally better, not greatly better, than (from) Westerlo. I would have preferred a Westerlo deal because with Westerlo I keep 15% of the onward sale of a player like Maseko," he added.
The Story Behind The Scenes
Will The Relationship Continue To Grow?
Matthews, despite having handled a number of transfers between SuperSport and Sundowns, believes that the dynamic between the two clubs could change given the number of new role-players involved in the local game.
"The game of football is different now. It's not that Sundowns' money is the only money that's available. The Saudi Arabian clubs are coming in and offering more money than Sundowns and I know a couple of my former players that have been offered monster money in Saudi Arabia. But they are not going to be sold. So, at the end of the day, each player has to look at his own situation. I told Thapelo,
'You go to Sundowns, you're not getting sold. Barcelona can come for you, they're not gonna sell you. They don't need the money.' And it doesn't matter who comes for him, he belongs to Sundowns and they are powerful enough to keep whatever they want. I'm in a different situation and so I have to play to our strengths and our strengths are unearthing talent."
Secret Agent
The Siya crew spoke to a top agent in SA to get their expert understanding on what's going on. For obvious reasons, the agent will remain anonymous.
"People may refer to it as a strange relationship given that these are rivals, but one has to look at it as a mutually beneficial relationship. I think besides Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, Sundowns have a very similar relationship with most teams in the PSL where they are willing to pay top dollar – no questions asked – if they are keen on a player. SuperSport, to their credit, have done well to attract more sponsors, meaning that the transfer fees they collect from Sundowns is in addition to money that the likes of Jonsson Workwear and iKhokha are pumping into the club, making them a highly profitable business, which is what it is all about – making money. Yes, there is passion involved in football, but without sustainable income, that passion can quickly disappear. I just think SuperSport need to remain competitive and push to win trophies despite selling their best players to Sundowns and continue to be a nuisance to their more esteemed counterparts. I think that is an area where the team have lost it a bit in recent years."
