SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt has discussed the latest deal between his side and Mamelodi Sundowns after the latter signed Thapelo Maseko.
He said Manchester United and City are not trading players to each other like SuperSport do to Sundowns but Rulani Mokwena’s side are using their financial muscle over them.
They signed Maseko in this window, having last season signed Sipho Mbule and Ronwen Williams.
Before that, ahead of the start of the 2021/22 season, they captured Grant Kekana and when the transfer window opened up in January last year, they went back again to Teboho Mokoena, who is currently the PSL Footballer of the Season.
The year before it was Aubrey Modiba and others players who have switched between the Tshwane giants are Reyaad Pieterse, Jeremy Brockie, Mane Niang, Bryce Moon, Tebogo Langerman, Anthony Laffor, Elias Pelembe, Katlego Mphela, Siboniso Gaxa, Calvin Marlin, Lungisani Ndlela and Paul Evans, with the latter being the first player in the PSL era to move between the two clubs, in the 1999/00.
Hunt, who already stated this cannot continue happening when the season was paused last term, said Maseko’s life will be set up based on what he will earn at Downs.
“The money [SSU got] was off the charts, what do you say, and the boy financially will be better off,” said Hunt.
“One thing about coming to SuperSport, we might sign Grant Margeman and back [to for Sundowns] (leaving the media laughing in the background), I’m only joking (laughing too).
“One thing about SuperSport, we give opportunities to players and give opportunities and life, that’s it.”
When pressed that in the past this is not something he liked considering Sundowns are his direct rivals for the league title, Hunt said this is kind of strange as it is not a world phenomenon.
“It doesn’t happen anywhere in the world except in South Africa because they have the wealth, they can dominate and obviously we got players coming this way and the deal was a good deal for everybody,” Hunt said.
“We got Grant now, full time, Etiosa Ighodaro (on loan from Sundowns), those types of things.
“It’s very unique, knowing the Barcelona and Real Madrid or Man United to Man City, they wouldn’t sell to each other, you know what I’m trying to say.
“But it happens in South Africa because they have financial power, they are a fantastic football club. They have gone to that level and they can do that.
“It is football. As a coach, that’s what happens.”
On top of getting Margeman and Ighodaro, goalkeeper Ricardo Goss will also spend the second season of his loan spell from Sundowns at SuperSport this coming season.
