SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews has broken his silence on the recent offer from Westerlo for Thapelo Maseko, saying he would prefer for the player to stay another year at the club.
Maseko, 20, is experiencing a great breakout campaign that has seen him score four goals and set up two more in 22 appearances.
As reported by iDiski Times, Westerlo – Lyle Foster’s former club – have submitted an offer for the fast winger, but Matthews insisted that, even though he already has a replacement from the club’s own ranks, he wants to hold onto Maseko a little longer.
“I’ve got big clubs in South Africa competing for Thapelo,” he told journalists when asked about the SA U23 international.
“We definitely won’t budge on the offer from Westerlo, absolutely not. It’s not an offer that’s acceptable to us.
“We know what we’ve got in Thapelo Maseko and as much as we know that we’re going to lose him, we’re not going to be able to hold on to him, it’s not possible, that’s just the reality of life.
“Obviously, I want to hold onto him as long as possible and try to squeeze another season out of him but he’s too good.
“For his own developmental pathway and to be a sensation in South African football, a move will be good for him but not right now – he’s still developing.
“You can see it in the consistency levels. His own levels of consistency are not there. No U19 player can ever deliver that level of consistency whether you are [Alejandro] Garnacho for Manchester United or Maseko for SuperSport – young players are not consistent.
“We understand that, Gavin understands that and we have to try and find the right blend of experienced players and keep bringing through our youngsters.
“But when Maseko leaves me, Shandre Campbell walks straight in and maybe not exactly the same role as TP because he doesn’t have the pace but in the Diski Challenge this year I think he’s the leading goalscorer, leading assists, dynamic, exciting player that’s going to make a huge impact in South African football.
“The same way when I let Yeye go, I said I don’t need to replace Yeye, because I’ve got Teboho Mokoena, who is going to be a sensation in South African football and I haven’t been proved wrong.”
Matthews also confirmed that Matsatsantsa are not in a hurry to sell their coveted asset and also believe the Westerlo offer doesn’t meet the players’ value and that more teams from overseas will come knocking for him.
“With Maseko, we’ve still got three years on his contract. We know that if we keep him here until he’s 22 or 23, then he’s staying here,” he added.
“The real decision for him is whether he wants to go overseas and prove himself through the ranks in Europe because he has the capacity to do so.
“The Westerlo offer aside, there will be European clubs coming for Thapelo Maseko – whether it’s Westerlo who are a fantastic club and who we’re not opposed to doing a deal with, but at the right level.
“We know what they sold Lyle Foster for and we know the future value of Thapelo Maseko, certainly an estimate, we’ve got an idea, so we don’t need to jump on the first offer that comes along.
“If our Diski Challenge team wins the DStv Diski Challenge, Maseko will go with them overseas to play in the international tournament so he can get some exposure at that level.
“But he’ll also stay on then to have a trial at a big club in Europe, that’s lined up for July. Then we can sit down with him to talk about timeframes.
“He’s a great player and he’s destined for great things.”
