Spurs will have to make better offer, says Sibiya
SUPERSPORT United chairperson Khulu Sibiya has rejected reports that Bongani Khumalo's move to Tottenham Hotspur in January is a foregone conclusion.
Tottenham will have to pitch a new and better offer - Sibiya
While the impression created has been that the United defender's relocation to the English Premiership was certain, Sibiya's statement has thrown a spanner in the works.
"This is not a foregone conclusion and Tottenham will have to pitch a new and better offer during the next transfer window. Negotiations will open then," Sibiya said.
Without disclosing what Tottenham had wanted for his skipper, Sibiya has been doubtful about their offer, insisting he was not prepared to send Khumalo's career down the drain.
"People have very short memories when it comes to these kind of things. I can assure you that Bongani will look back and thank us," he said.
"I am of the opinion that the player has a lot of potential and if he is patient and concentrates on cementing his place in the national team he will go far. I feel sure that in a few months Bongani's stature will have risen and he will secure himself an even better overseas move."
Sibiya cited several players who he says have lived to regret premature moves.
Katlego Mphela went to French team Strasbourg, but returned frustrated.
The same thing happened to Thando Mngomeni, who went to Helsingborgs IF in Sweden but then admitted he had not been equipped to cope. Sibiya said he wants to prevent this happening to 23-year-old Khumalo.
"We have dedicated the best to grooming him for a bright overseas future," Sibiya said.
He added that Morgan Gould and Anthony Laffor, who have also been in demand, were also not leaving United.
Kwaye
Mmhhh...I think it's good to protect the interests of our young boys. Joining European teams is not a quarantee that their careers will blossom. If our teams pay them well, I think it's advisable for them to be petient. Good things come to those who wait. Our teams need to keep them motivated though.Report Abuse
PheliMarabi
This overseas teams must put their money where their mouth is.Every player has a value which is known by management.
Nothing for mahala.Let the best remain here in Africa.
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TSHEPAAAAAA
@KWAYE AND PHELIMARABI DON'T U THINK OUR TEAMS SOMETIMES ARE SCARED OF LOOSING PLAYERS AND BLAME IT ON THE MONEY, I MEAN LOOK AT IT FROM BOTH SIDES, LOSSING BONGS, GOULD AND LAFOUR, COULD MEAN THAT S.S.U WILL SUFFER FOR THIS YEAR.Report Abuse
Kwaye
@ TSHEPAAAA - Your argument may hold some water. But again most of SA soccer players do go abroad and become benchwarmers. As a result, they do not keep the level of fitness they were at when they were in SA. They become less competitive, and we ultimately select them for national duties. AND we lose so dismally. It's not good for neither themselves nor the country. I kinda like the Egyptian FA approach. Slowly, we're getting there.Report Abuse
CrazyMajor
Teams shud be prepared to put a competitive offer on the table if they want the best!!!Report Abuse
MTT
Hee bathong keng ka diteam tsee,they just wasting these players careers,football is a short term career so they shud go overseas make as much money as possible.Report Abuse
doc4life
let Supersport do what Sundowns did and offer Bongani an Improve offerand in that way we might find their claim credible, it does not help playing weekin and week-out yet taking home 40k while you could make 800k sitting on the bench; of course local teams cant offer that much but clear the new mphela deal should be around 200k+ and on the local league it is a whole lot of money; the question is is supersport willing to give bongani even 150k+ pm?
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Gambler
Club bosses only interested in self enrichment forgetting that football is a short career.If he can afforrd to pay him R400K a week (a money he is suppossed to earn overseas ) then thumbs up.Report Abuse