HEAD coach Stuart Baxter paved the way for highly rated central defender Tefu “Masha” Mashamaite to return home from Swedish club BK Hacken and join ambitious SuperSport United on a two-year deal.
The former Kaizer Chiefs defender (31) and 2014-15 PSL Player of the Season was unveiled as Matsatsantsa a Pitori’s marquee signing ahead of the close of the transfer window at midnight tomorrow.
Baxter explained how he managed to convince Mashamaite to join United: “I have been monitoring Masha for some time. I am friends with Hacken coach (Peter Gerhardsson), who was my assistant when I was in charge of Swedish club Helsingsborg.
“I have been getting regular updates from him. When I realised Masha was unhappy and wanted to come home, I went to Sweden in June to convince him to join SuperSport.”
Baxter said he was thrilled the tough-as-teak Mashamaite joined Matsatsantsa – the fourth former Chiefs player to join him at the club. He also signed goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse, central defender Morgan Gould and Reneilwe “Yeye” Letsholonyane from Chiefs.
Baxter said the reason he was signing ex-Chiefs players was because he trusted them: “Masha will be a role model to the likes of up-and-coming defender Denwin Farmer, who is going places. Masha is a leader and has a strong character. I jumped at the chance to get him here.”
Matsatsantsa CEO Stan Mathews said the plan was to bring Mashamaite to the club in the January transfer window but they had to accelerate plans when Masha decided he wanted to leave Hacken immediately.
Said Matthews: “We successfully negotiated a transfer fee, which I’m not going to disclose but it was a good deal all round. Masha is a winner and the type of player that will help us get back that winning feeling.”
Baxter is spoilt for choice with five top central defenders in Gould, Mashamaite, Mario Booysen, Clayton Daniels and Farmer.
He said: “Masha will hit the ground running and could make his debut in our next league match at home to Chippa United on 14 September.”
Mashamaite said: “I enjoyed playing in Sweden. It was a great learning curve. But I wanted to come home. I wanted to join SuperSport because of coach Baxter. We were successful at Chiefs and it’s like coming home for me. I want to help them win trophies.”
