After spending about two years at SuperSport United without playing much, at the time it came as a surprise that Orlando Pirates went in for midfielder Thalente Mbatha but the transfer has proven to be a stroke of genius.
Since joining Pirates on loan in January last season, he has been a regular at Pirates and then signed a permanent deal. Different quarters in football circles started questioning whether SuperSport made a mistake in letting him go, as he has very quickly even become a Bafana Bafana player and reportedly attracted interest from England.
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Now, SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews talks to Soccer Laduma how it was the best decision for Mbatha to move from SuperSport United, where he was not playing regularly, to Pirates, where he has become a star.
Matthews said there is nothing his club regrets about Mbatha's move to Pirates, where he is flourishing.
"The fact is he wasn't given the necessary game time to shine at us and his move to Pirates was the right move at the right time for him. He wouldn't be in Bafana Bafana or have European interest if he was still at us. So, I'm happy for him because he is a wonderful, hard working young man who is living up to his name and showing us what he can do," Matthews told the Siya crew.
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"It's still early days for him at a big Club like Pirates but he has shown what confidence can do when the coaching staff believe in and support young talent," Matthews added to Soccer Laduma.
Mbatha's move to Pirates has indeed proven to be beneficial for his career, allowing him to showcase his talent and gain recognition at both national and international level. Matthews acknowledged that the move was the right decision for Mbatha's development.
