Scout’s report: Paul Matthews – from Thomas Madigage to Teboho Mokoena

By Mazola Molefe
8th September 2023

“A blind man could have seen Thomas Madigage, that’s just how good he was,” says Paul Matthews, the SuperSport United chief scout.

But the statement downplays his eye for picking out some of the best and most talented footballers in the country over the years.

Matthews was naturally drawn to the beautiful game because of his father, Roy Matthews who coached Jomo Cosmos, Arcadia Shepherds as well as SuperSport and is mentioned alongside household names like Pitso Mosimane, Mark Fish, Philemon Masinga and Sunday Masegela.

The apple didn’t fall far from the tree – decades later, without Matthews South Africa wouldn’t have treasures like Andile Jali, Bongani Khumalo, Bongani Zungu, Grant Kekana, Aubrey Modiba, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe.

And the reigning Footballer of the Year: Teboho Mokoena.

When SABC Sport finally tracked Matthews down during the FIFA break when he wasn’t busy crisscrossing the continent for the next big gem, his story as a scout is one for the books.

“I’ve filled many roles at different clubs, from being a coach and even a goalkeeper coach. Growing up at Arcadia and then my dad moving when I was about 13 at the time Jomo [Sono] bought Highlands Park meant I grew up watching Phil Masinga, Helman Mkhalele and that generation of great players that came through at Cosmos,” he recalls the early days over a cup of coffee.

“On a Friday night I could go train with them because my dad was the coach – then I could take a couple of my friends along. They would be Thomas Madigage, who was unbelievable and won the league at 17. Mark Fish was another one, then Edward Motale. I got those guys to come to Cosmos, and then you sort of get a bit of a reputation as a scout.”

At SuperSport now, Matthews is behind the scenes.

But often when the club’s matches do not draw great crowds, you will spot the 53-year-old in the stands perhaps already plotting where to plug gaps.

The club also owe it to Matthews for the handsome transfer fees he has indirectly brought in via the sale of Modiba, Kekana and most notable Mokoena plus Sipho Mbule, a player discovered when it was his Harmony Academy teammate that was under the spotlight at the time.

Both signed for Mamelodi Sundowns last year.

“The first week I joined SuperSport I went to a tournament and watched this guy a few times and he caught my eye. It was Teboho Mokoena, so I phoned Stan [Matthews, CEO] and said ‘I am not gonna go to a tournament every week and tell you there’s a player here you have to sign. This might not happen again for a long time. Then of course Sipho Mbule was a bonus,” explained Matthews.

It's not hard to predict Matsatsantsa’s next big star with winger teenagers Shandre Cambell and Ime Okon – the latter is another player in the long line of future prospects scouted by Matthews.