Lyle Lakay has admitted he is still under contract with Mamelodi Sundowns and not a free agent, even though he is seemingly not in the club’s plans.
The left-back says he will report back to the club as soon as he is done with Bafana Bafana’s COSAFA Cup that is currently ongoing in Durban, where he is skipper.
Lakay, having played in six league matches for Downs last season, was loaned to Cape Town City before the transfer window was closed, which came to even his own surprise after he was named the PSL Defender of the Season in the 2021/22 season, where he featured in 41 matches in all competitions.
He has now returned to Chloorkop and insisted he is still under contract with Sundowns, despite some saying he is a free agent.
“At the moment, I’m still contracted to Sundowns. I have seen rumours that I’m a free agent, but I’m not,” said Lakay to iDiski Times.
“Even though I’m not in their plans, I’m still contracted. I still have to report back, I still have to respect the club and I will have to wait for them to let me know what is happening.”
Lakay also opened up on his exit from Sundowns after being named the best defender in the league, insisting he had to get on with it because sulking was not going to help him at City.
“It was difficult but at the end of the day some of the things are out of your hands and when they are out of your hands, nothing you can do,” he added.
“At the end of the day life goes on and for me I had to make peace with it in order for me to move on. As difficult as it was, the only way I had to move on was to make peace with it.
“It was not going to help me to sulk. Like I said, if things are out of your control, out of your hands, there is nothing you can do. Because, if I had to sulk, I wouldn’t be here with Bafana in the COSAFA Cup.”
Lakay is one of the players allowed by Sundowns to be in the makeshift squad for the COSAFA Cup in Durban, instead reporting for their pre-season, which seems a clear indication that the Tshwane giants don’t see a future with him this coming season.
The 31-year-old, who joined Sundowns ahead of the 2018/19 season from City, has won four league titles, two Nedbank Cups, one MTN8 and TKO with the Tshwane giants.
