Agent says Tylo Sanger attracting overseas interest amid Pirates and Sundowns links

Tylo Sanger’s emergence at Durban City has drawn interest from clubs both inside and outside South Africa, according to his agent Mike Makaab.

The 22-year-old midfielder joined the newly promoted Citizens from Cape Town Spurs at the beginning of the season and has played every minute of their campaign so far.

His performances have reportedly prompted enquiries from Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, while Makaab confirmed that interest in the Mitchells Plain-born player extends beyond the country.

Makaab, the CEO of ProSport International, said Sanger’s progress followed a difficult period in which an injury interrupted the promising career he had begun as a teenager.

“Tylo is a typical case of a young player who is extremely talented, he had an incredibly bright future in his teens, unfortunately he got injured and then worked his way back to full recovery, had a good period playing at Cape Town Spurs under coach Nasief Morris,” Makaab told KickOff.

‘He has exceeded all of our expectations’

Sanger was initially brought to Durban City on trial, but quickly convinced the club to offer him a contract and has since become a key player.

“The young man has done remarkably well. In my honest opinion, he has exceeded all of our expectations,” said Makaab.

“When we brought him through to Durban City on trial it was because we believed in his ability, but for it to happen the way it happened, where he signed for City and has played in every single minute for the football club and has done incredibly well.”

Makaab said the midfielder’s performances had created significant interest, although he stressed that Sanger remained at an early stage of his professional career.

“Tylo Sanger is a typical example of a young man who has decided he wants to make something of his football career, now look at him, there is already interest outside the borders of this country, within the borders yes, definitely but even outside the borders of this country, there is serious interest.”

Makaab warns against putting pressure on young player

The agent also acknowledged that he believed Sanger could command a substantial transfer fee if a club attempted to sign him from Durban City.

However, he urged caution over the way the player’s progress is discussed, pointing out that Sanger has been a professional footballer in the PSL for less than six months.

“I have that belief, but we all have to be circumspect and careful in the way we write the story and narrative. Tylo is just embarking on his professional career. He’s hardly been six months as a professional footballer in the PSL,” Makaab said.

“So we have to be very careful that we don’t do what we do to a lot of young, upcoming players, overhype them, surround them with all the wrong noise,” he cautioned.

“And then a lot of these youngsters can’t grasp the reality of the situation that you can be a very special player, as a young player in the PSL. But if you want to go to the next level, you have to work extremely hard.”