Mike Makbaab, the agent of Sipho Mbule, has set the record straight on where interest in the new Orlando Pirates player came from and how his agency has handled the situation.
The former SuperSport United midfielder, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Sekhukhune United, was released by Mamelodi Sundowns after the Betway Premiership champions opted to not renew his contract.
A few weeks ago, Makaab has publicly stated that Mbule was offered to Kaizer Chiefs, but he now signed for their Soweto rivals this week – much to widespread disappointment by Amakhosi faithful.
However, Makaab insisted there was more interest in Mbule, also from North Africa and the Middle East, and it’s up to the clubs to decide on whether a deal happens or not.
“Let me address your comment, you were expecting to see him somewhere else, that was speculation,” he stated on Gagasi FM.
“Don’t forget that Sipho Mbule was only declared a free agent on 1 June because Sundowns had an option until the end of May – so we could not do anything with Sipho until the 1st of June.
“Firstly from a contractual points of view and secondly from an ethical point of view. We don’t like to deal in a way where we’re talking to clubs while the player is contracted to another club, and a possibility is that a player’s contract might be extended.
“So to put the record straight, we only started looking at options for Sipho on 1 June.
“A lot of people have said why do you have to phone clubs, why don’t clubs phone you. Sometimes clubs do phone me, sometimes agents phone clubs, particularly of you have good relationships.
“Sipho Mbule with all his issues, is a top-class football player and it was always my opinion that he would either go to a club in North Africa, we had a lot of interest in the Middle East, particularly from three clubs in Dubai, and then we were of the opinion that it would be a big club in South Africa that would be interested or could sign him.
“This business about making these misconceptions regarding I deal with Mamelodi Sundowns in one way, Kaizer Chiefs in another way, Pirates in a different way, Sekhukhune United… it’s not true at all.
“One thing I’ll never do, and I’ve been accused of this, take a player and try market the player to get another club interested – absolutely not.
“Truth of the matter is that of course we were talking to a few clubs, of course there was interest but I’m going to this and I’m going to say this for the last time – football clubs have a right to make decisions. Not based up on what general consensus is.
“No football club in the world signs a player because they believe that’s what it’s fanbase wants.”
