Mninawa Ntloko
NEW Kaizer Chiefs signing Ramahlwe Mphahlele says he was willing to take a pay cut to stay at former club Mamelodi Sundowns but in the end chose to leave when the Chloorkop side wouldn’t commit to a new contract.
The 26 year old Mphahlele was one of the eight new players Chiefs announced on Monday and the forlorn expression on the defender’s face gave hint to his internal turmoil.
‘‘When my agent came with an offer from Kaizer Chiefs‚ one could not just ignore it because it was a good offer‚” Mphahlele said.
‘‘But I was still reluctant even after the offer because I told the club (Sundowns) I was still willing to stay. It’s not like I said to them ’you guys must give me what Chiefs is giving me.’ I was even willing to take less just to stay at the club‚ but it did not happen and that is why I am here (at Chiefs now).
‘‘Yes there was a time when I felt ’yeah I love this club‚ let me just sign and continue playing’. But I decided no‚ let me just wait a little bit. Like I said it was very difficult for me to make the decision to come join Kaizer Chiefs. I am here now‚ I have joined‚ but yeah‚ I almost signed a deal (with Downs). ”
The defender said leaving Sundowns — whom he described as the best team in SA — and moving to Chiefs was the toughest decision he has every had to make in his life.
‘‘It was very difficult and that is why it took me so much time to make a decision.
‘‘I have been locked in negotiations with Sundowns for two seasons — that’s when I started to negotiate my contract. Look‚ I wanted to stay at the club and I made it clear to everyone (at Sundowns) that I wanted to stay because I saw my future there. But sometimes things do not always work out the way you want them to work out.”
Mphahlele said there were other clubs who were interested in his services but he chose Chiefs after the Naturena club approached his representative in February.
Sundowns won the league title by a record 71 points last season and they are in the group stages of the African Champions League.
Mphahlele could barely contain his emotions as he contemplated what might have been had he stayed on at Chloorkop.
‘‘This is not an easy move to make. You need to have guts to take a decision like this because you are leaving people who are in the Champions League‚ who have won the league‚ who have won the cup (Telkom Knockout) and currently have the best team in the PSL.
‘‘So like I said‚ I had to really‚ really think deep and take my time. That is why I only made a decision in the last five days of my contract.”
The 26 year old Mphahlele said he also had a couple of offers in Belgium but elected to remain in SA to be closer to his family.
‘‘I just decided to make a decision that was good for me and my family. It was very important.”
Mphahlele said he has a good relationship with Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane and had the circumstances been different‚ he would have remained at Chloorkop.
‘‘It is very sad that I have left the club. He is one coach who believed in me more than I believed in myself and I will forever be grateful to him. I spoke to him and he would have loved me to stay. He wished me well and I know he is not happy that I left. But that is football and transfers will always happen‚ we move on.” — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
Mphahlele describes Sundowns as best team in SA and says leaving them was sad
NEW Kaizer Chiefs signing Ramahlwe Mphahlele says he was willing to take a pay cut to stay at former club Mamelodi Sundowns but in the end chose to leave when the Chloorkop side wouldn’t commit to a new contract.
The 26 year old Mphahlele was one of the eight new players Chiefs announced on Monday and the forlorn expression on the defender’s face gave hint to his internal turmoil.
‘‘When my agent came with an offer from Kaizer Chiefs‚ one could not just ignore it because it was a good offer‚” Mphahlele said.
‘‘But I was still reluctant even after the offer because I told the club (Sundowns) I was still willing to stay. It’s not like I said to them ’you guys must give me what Chiefs is giving me.’ I was even willing to take less just to stay at the club‚ but it did not happen and that is why I am here (at Chiefs now).
‘‘Yes there was a time when I felt ’yeah I love this club‚ let me just sign and continue playing’. But I decided no‚ let me just wait a little bit. Like I said it was very difficult for me to make the decision to come join Kaizer Chiefs. I am here now‚ I have joined‚ but yeah‚ I almost signed a deal (with Downs). ”
The defender said leaving Sundowns — whom he described as the best team in SA — and moving to Chiefs was the toughest decision he has every had to make in his life.
‘‘It was very difficult and that is why it took me so much time to make a decision.
‘‘I have been locked in negotiations with Sundowns for two seasons — that’s when I started to negotiate my contract. Look‚ I wanted to stay at the club and I made it clear to everyone (at Sundowns) that I wanted to stay because I saw my future there. But sometimes things do not always work out the way you want them to work out.”
Mphahlele said there were other clubs who were interested in his services but he chose Chiefs after the Naturena club approached his representative in February.
Sundowns won the league title by a record 71 points last season and they are in the group stages of the African Champions League.
Mphahlele could barely contain his emotions as he contemplated what might have been had he stayed on at Chloorkop.
‘‘This is not an easy move to make. You need to have guts to take a decision like this because you are leaving people who are in the Champions League‚ who have won the league‚ who have won the cup (Telkom Knockout) and currently have the best team in the PSL.
‘‘So like I said‚ I had to really‚ really think deep and take my time. That is why I only made a decision in the last five days of my contract.”
The 26 year old Mphahlele said he also had a couple of offers in Belgium but elected to remain in SA to be closer to his family.
‘‘I just decided to make a decision that was good for me and my family. It was very important.”
Mphahlele said he has a good relationship with Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane and had the circumstances been different‚ he would have remained at Chloorkop.
‘‘It is very sad that I have left the club. He is one coach who believed in me more than I believed in myself and I will forever be grateful to him. I spoke to him and he would have loved me to stay. He wished me well and I know he is not happy that I left. But that is football and transfers will always happen‚ we move on.” — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos