Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise warns Orlando Pirates midfielder Sipho Mbule could be remembered as another player who failed to reach full potential.
The 28-year-old was left out of the Bafana Bafana team that played two friendlies with Panama.
At one point, it appeared that the midfield maestro had gotten his mojo back after impressing at Pirates which led to his recall to the national team. The former Sundowns star has since faded and hardly makes the Pirates starting eleven.
“I know I might sound like a hater, but for me personally, it feels like he’s been ‘bubbling under’ for so long,” Modise said as per IOL.
Mbule ‘bubbling under’ says Modise
Modise believes that Mbule has great potential in him.
“When Sipho was still at SuperSport, there were rumours of him going to [Kaizer] Chiefs, rumours of going everywhere. I remember doing a Sundowns-SuperSport game; as I left, I bumped into Stan Matthews [ex-SuperSport chairman] and he said to me, ‘I need to talk to you,’” he added.
“He took me aside and said, ‘After you at SuperSport, the very same talent you had, the very same way I felt about you, is this boy Sipho. Can you please talk to him? I think he has great potential, just like you had, but I think he is just stuck in his ways.’”
The General revealed that he was asked to mentor Mbule when he join Sundowns from SuperSport United.
Modise says he was asked to mentor Mbule
“I have been asked to talk to Sipho for such a long time. Stan Matthews did; when Sipho signed for Sundowns, our chairman [Tlhopie Motsepe] did,” said Modise.
“Maybe because we don’t have similar stories, but from a talent point of view, they saw a connection. Maybe there are people who told Sipho that I have an issue with him.”