NO DEAL! Cape Town City FC bosses John Comitis and Benni McCarthy have put their foot down and sounded a stern warning to clubs circling their star players in the hopes of signing them.
The Fifa transfer window closes on Thursday, so this is the week where clubs will be in a mad rush as they pursue their players of choice.
It is no secret that Mamelodi Sundowns have been hot on the heels of the Citizens’ top striker, Lebogang Manyama, as well as dangling a fat carrot in front of Aubrey Ngoma to lure him to Chloorkop.
But there could also be a threat from afar, with Turkish club Konyaspor FC apparently interested in the players, although Manyama’s representative, Maimane Phiri, says no offer has come from the said club.
SunSport understands that Manyama and Ngoma have submitted letters of request to Comitis to be released from their respective contracts and transferred to clubs of their choice.
But Comitis rubbished the rumours yesterday, saying the two players could only play for Cape Town City FC this season, no other PSL side.
“We’d look only at proposals for Manyama from overseas clubs, not any local team,” Comitis told SunSport.
“I know only of interest shown in Manyama by a Turkish club (Konyaspor), which would be good for the player should the deal go through. He is a good player and capable of playing in Europe, trust me.
“As for Aubrey, I know he is still recovering from an ankle operation and fighting to regain full fitness. But neither of them will be going anywhere unless a big European offer comes through.”
He vehemently denied all rumours about the duo having submitted letters requesting to be released from their contracts.
“There is no such issue – no such letters came to my office,” said Comitis.
When asked why Manyama was sidelined for their first leg MTN8 semifinal match against Bidvest Wits, which they won 1-0 courtesy of an Ayanda Patosi goal, Comitis said “he was not being sidelined”.
He explained: “Look, Manyama is not in the right frame of mind at this stage. He is thinking about overseas offers and the coach has decided to give him his space. The coach has an understanding of players’ thinking when there is a possibility of an overseas offer.”
SunSport has further learnt that Sundowns have been prohibited from engaging Manyama after head coach Pitso Mosimane publicly expressed that he would be happy to have the 27-year-old in his ensemble.
“Remember, Pitso and Comitis had an ugly spat in the media when Sundowns started talking to Ngoma without the consent of Cape Town City FC,” said our source.
“Now it is difficult for the two parties to sit down and come to an understanding. It is a fact that Manyama and Ngoma want to play for Sundowns – show me a player in the PSL who doesn’t want to play for Sundowns!
“Players see football as a money game and we all know Sundowns splurge on their players. It is an unfortunate situation.”
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates have joined the queue for Jeremy Brockie.
The Soweto giants sold last season’s top striker, Zimbabwean Tendai Ndoro, to Al Faisaly FC of Saudi Arabia and would dearly like to replace him.
