SuperSport United | Club CEO puts Mbule to Sundowns rumours to rest!

SuperSport United CEO Stanley Matthews has set the record straight regarding the future of Sipho Mbule and reports linking him to Mamelodi Sundowns.

In an interview with iDiskiTimes, Matthews found it difficult to answer the Mbule question in a polite way, saying the journalist who first wrote the story that the player was joining Sundowns should be censored.

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This is because Mbule was reported to have signed a pre-contract with Sundowns, and according to Matthews, the midfielder still has three more years with SuperSport United.

“With regards to Mbule, to be honest it is difficult for me to respond in a way that doesn’t sound annoyed, because the journalist that wrote the story, for me, is irresponsible,” said Matthews.

“Actually, he should be censored and be dealt with because you just can’t make up any story you like and put it in a newspaper. It is very disappointing that this is what football journalism has become.

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“There is no truth to what they are saying and Sipho still has three years with us as a club on his contract, so there is no one who can sign a pre-contract with Mbule. Anyone who can sign a contract with Mbule is asking to be banned by FIFA,” he said.

“So, the journalist who says Sundowns have signed a pre-contract with Mbule must show the proof where Mbule signed, show us where Mbule’s signature is then we can deal with it.

“I know there is no proof because I have an exceptional relationship with Sundowns,” added Matthews. I have sold more players to Sundowns than anybody else in my 22 years at the club, there is no way they can do such a thing,” added Matthews.

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However, Matthews did admit that he previously held talks with Sundowns after they enquired about Mbule’s availability.

Matthews said Sundowns know his position about Mbule because they approached him in the presence of the player’s agent.

“Sundowns have enquired about Mbule to me. They have come through the front door and I have spoken to them face-to-face. They know my position and the club’s position on it,” he revealed.

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“Those talks have taken place between myself and Sundowns; they have taken place with the player’s representatives.”

And it’s not only Mbule that Sundowns are keeping an eye on at SuperSport United. Teboho Mokoena is another star midfielder that the Brazilians are interested in.  

“We have also discussed not only Mbule but a few players too and I explained my position around players like Mbule and (Teboho) Mokoena, and those players we have said all along that they were going to go to the Olympics,” continued Matthews.

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With that said, Matthews made it clear that Matsatsantsa aren’t going to sell either Mbule or Mokoena locally until they are satisfied that there are no overseas offers for them after the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“So we are not going to sell them to any local team until they have been to the Olympics and had a chance for their international buyout clauses to be exercised,” he confirmed.  

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“I have told that to the media, I have told that to other clubs, I have told that to Mamelodi Sundowns because that’s what my board has decided and that’s where we are sitting as a football club,” concluded Matthews.