SuperSport United boss denies bias towards Mamelodi Sundowns

The two Tshwane rivals have once again concluded one of the biggest deals of the current window, with defender Kegan Johannes leaving Matsatsantsa for Chloorkop.

The deal saw Sundowns goalkeeper Ricardo Goss and right-back Nyiko Mobbie sent in the opposite direction to beef up coach Gavin Hunt’s squad. 

SuperSport were in the spotlight a year ago when winger Thapelo Maseko became the latest player to join Sundowns from SuperSport, following in the footsteps of midfielder Sipho Mbule, Teboho Mokoena, as well as keeper Ronwen Williams. 

The business between the two sides over the past decade is well documented, but Matthews denied he has any bias towards their crosstown rivals. 

"I don’t think we are trying to compete against Sundowns for league honours. They’ve got 45-odd registered players, they are paying €3-million for a player," defended Matthews.

"I’m signing free agents, bringing back people for the last couple of years and promoting DDC [reserve league] kids. It’s not a realistic comparison."

Matthews said he would have, in fact, sold Johannes to any Betway Premiership outfit had they even come close to what Sundowns offered.

“If any club in SA had offered me the deal for Kegan Johannes that Sundowns put on the table, I would have signed the deal in five minutes – any club in South Africa," he added.

"It’s not a personal thing, I don’t have any relationship with Sundowns whatsoever. It grates me every year to look at the PSL Awards, to look at the midfielder of the year, defender of the year, goalie of the year and think ‘they all belonged to me’. 

"That is our reality and that is our life – you have big clubs that are able to do big things. Real Madrid are chasing Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose got one year left on his Liverpool contract. 

"[Mo] Salah has got one year left at Liverpool. If either of those players leave the club for free, then Liverpool have been dumped in the transfer market. 

"I don’t’ want to be dumped in the transfer market. I can’t be apologetic about doing the best deal for my club – sorry that it’s [with] Sundowns.”

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