Mamelodi Sundowns forward Tashreeq Matthews says winning the league and being in the CAF Champions League final, potentially justifies his decision to return to South Africa.
Matthews, 24, was in high demand after some impressive form in Sweden with 11 goals and 10 assists in 33 games with IK Sirius but Sundowns won the race for his services in a reported €1.5-million.
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The transfer drew about questions over his career trajectory, having first went abroad from Ajax Cape Town to Borussia Dortmund back in 2018 before stints at Utrecht and Helsinborgs on loan prior to his time with Varbergs BoIS and Sirius.
“Coming back was a difficult decision but at the end of the day, coming back to the best team in South Africa and winning trophies, and being in the Champions League final says a lot,” Matthews said.
“Winning trophies in Europe? I didn’t win any besides individual awards but now I’m winning together with a team.”
Matthews also addressed some of the concerns of his physique which has come under question for most of his career and how he’s managed to overcome it – and become an integral part of the Sundowns squad with 12 goals and eight assists, with the first leg final against Pyramids likely to be his 50th match since joining the club.
“If you look at it, not just me, there’s many footballers who have my structure, it just depends on how you use your body, of course sometimes, it comes to a disadvantage but if you’re in possession of the ball you have an advantage, if you know how to use your body,” he explained.
“Growing up as a footballer I played many different positions, I’m comfortable in attack, going forward, anywhere in the attack basically.”
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