Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has called Kaizer Chiefs counterpart Molefi Ntseki to order, saying it was disrespectful that he spoke so openly about his player Sibongiseni Mthethwa.
Mthethwa saw his name trending on social media midweek, as he is being heavily linked with a move to Amakhosi, who were said to have submitted an offer but it was rejected.
Chiefs coach Ntseki confirmed his interest in the workhorse midfielder, who has seen Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu all show an interest in his services, saying they would love to have him any time since he is a good player.
When Barker was asked about Ntseki’s comments after his side drew 0-0 with Golden Arrows at Mpumalanga Stadium on Saturday, he said Ntseki shouldn’t have spoken publicly about a player that belongs to another club.
“As a coach, I wouldn’t do that,” said Barker when he was asked by iDiski Times.
“I have got the desire to have many players from other clubs, but at the end of the day, if we are Stellenbosch, we want a footballer from another team, we get our management, our CEO [Rob Benadie] to engage formally with them and that is the way we do it.
“It is a bit frustrating when it goes out to the media because the player is a Stellenbosch player and for me that is not the way to show it.”
On the rumours going around about Ox, Barker said: “Sometimes I take them with a pinch of salt because it is always speculation.
“You know he is a good player and we all know that he has had a good time with us. You know when you have a good player and the window’s still open, there will always be speculation.
“But right now that is all it is. I’m just glad that he is committed to us and once again he put in a very good performance.”
When asked if Stellenbosch have received any formal approach from Chiefs, Barker said there hasn’t been any.
“No, not that I’m aware of,” he replied.
The PSL transfer window is coming to a close on Friday and it will be interesting to see whether Mthethwa will be a Stellenbosch player on Friday but Barker was confident that he will keep his vice-captain, who took the armband in the Arrows game after Deano Van Rooyen suffered bad cut to his face.
“He’s our player and nothing to be afraid of,” Barker concluded.
