SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews has admitted he got “a little bit blindsided” by Kaizer Chiefs, who came for both Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Luke Fleurs at the same time.
Chiefs signed Ditlhokwe, TT as he’s affectionally known, on a pre-contract during the January transfer window, but were not able to agree with Matsatsantsa for an immediate deal.
Matthews has now once again addressed the topic, telling Robert Marawa he can’t have too many regrets, despite the centre-back being the first player he loses for free.
“On the TT issue and the Chiefs issue, number one: he’s the first player we’ve lost on a free in my 23 years at the club,” he said on MSW.
“Obviously a bitter disappointment, but I’ve also signed over 200 players for SuperSport over the last decades for free. I’ve lived by that sword and I definitely am not a person to complain now that the sword came to hit me because I’ve survived on that, getting players on a pre-contract has been the trademark.”
When asked whether he feels blindsided by the Amakhosi, he did agree to an extend because Chiefs were offering deals to both TT and Fleurs at the same time.
“A little bit, but not so much,” he added.
“Chiefs came for both my centre-backs at the same time. Luke [Fleurs] was coming free, TT was coming free.
“Chiefs came for both of them. In one set of negotiations I could match the numbers and I could fight to keep the player, which was Luke.
“The other guy has a different agent, different ideas, different cell phone numbers and I couldn’t match those numbers.
“Unfortunately, the reality in football is that it’s a business and we have shareholders and we are accountable for what we spend.”
