Mamelodi Sundowns co-head coach Rulani Mokwena says the club has a responsibility to recruit the best players in response to the imminent signing of Terrence Mashego.
Mashego, 24, was subject of interest from Kaizer Chiefs in recent months but Cape Town City owner John Comitis said the player was not for sale as they looked to hold him for their maiden CAF Champions League campaign.
However, an irresistible bid reported by SABC Sport, to be in the region of R10-million was said to have been tabled for the player and iDiski Times understands the likes of Lyle Lakay, Sifiso Ngobeni and Kermit Erasmus were all discussed as players potentially moving in the opposite direction.
Head coach Eric Tinkler is believed to be in favour of naturally securing a like-for-like replacement with a left-back but it remains to be seen what transpires after Mashego’s blockbuster move.
Mokwena, however, stated he is not at liberty to discuss, what is speculated to be a five-year deal to be signed by the Bafana Bafana defender today.
“Terrence… until both clubs make an official statement, he’s not a Sundowns player and because he’s not a Sundowns player, officially – I’d like to refrain from discussing him,” Mokwena said at Chloorkop on Thursday afternoon.
“What I can say is that we want the best players in this team and we try to recruit the best players in this team. When they become available in the market we have an obligation to our supporters to make sure we move in that space to make our team as competitive as we can.
“That’s why we have Marcelo here, as you guys said we beat a lot of good competition to get Marcelo Allende. He has proven pedigree and plays for his national team, imagine the quality and calibre of players that play for the Chilean national team and he’s able to sit with us and work with us every day – that’s the space we’re in.
“We try to recruit the best players and then of course, at this moment in time, the biggest thing for us now is when we bring in, we have to let go – because you can’t have your cake and eat it. You can’t have too many [players] that’s the honest truth. So let’s wait and see and I’m sure the club will make an official statement.”