SuperSport United boss admits Matsatsantsa would be a 'better' team if they 'did not sell Ronwen Williams, Thapelo Maseko' and other players to Mamelodi Sundowns - 'One hundred percent for sure'

SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews has made a claim about Ronwen Williams, Thapelo Maseko, and other players who have left the club for Mamelodi Sundowns. 

In the past few seasons, Matsatsantsa sold no less than six players to Masandawana. This includes Williams, Maseko Teboho Mokoena, and Sipho Mbule, amongst others.

Facing criticism concerning his management methods, Matthews clarified why he frequently sells players to Sundowns, but acknowledged that this practice affects his team negatively.

"You can say that, one hundred percent for sure. We would be a much better team if we still had Maseko, Mokoena, Ronwen, and of course, we would have loved to have done that," Matthews said per Sportswire. 

"But when players move to salary brackets way beyond what we can offer as a club, number one, we don’t want to hold players back. So, when Ronwen came after 18 years with the football club and said, ‘This is the kind of money I can get elsewhere,’ what do you want us to do? Say ‘No,’ when we can’t pay him anywhere near close to that kind of money?”

"It was the same with Maseko, who came to us as a 15-year-old and whose first salary was very small, having progressed through the ranks," he added. 

"Suddenly, big figures are flashed on the table for him. I didn’t want a miserable player because he is upset that you never gave him his move." 

Kegan Johannes, Grant Kekana, and Aubrey Modiba are also some of the players who have joined Sundowns over the past five years.

Most of the players mentioned above have thrived at the Brazilians, contributing to the team's success which includes winning the Premier Soccer League title and the African Football League.

SuperSport do not only sell players to Downs, as they recently sold Tashreeq Morris to Kaizer Chiefs and Patrick Maswanganyi, and Thalent Mbatha to Orlando Pirates.

With Gavin Hunt frequently expressing concerns about the lack of quality players, it will be interesting to see if Matthews will heed his advice and cease selling the club's key players.

The Tshwane outfit will be in action on Wednesday when they face Cape Town Spurs in the Nedbank Cup Round of 16 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.