Cape Town City’s Emile Witbooi has no offers despite Orlando Pirates interest

Cape Town City chairman John Comitis says the club have received no concrete offers for teenage midfielder Emile Witbooi, despite reported interest from Orlando Pirates, while the 17-year-old has also been invited to Bayern Munich.

Witbooi was named Player’s Player of the Season in the Motsepe Foundation Championship after an impressive campaign, performances which brought him to the attention of clubs including Pirates.

The Orlando-based club’s interest is understood to have been affected by Witbooi’s valuation. However, Comitis insists his asking price would not prevent an agreement with either Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns if the circumstances were right.

“I don’t think that’s where we’re going to get stuck with either Pirates or Sundowns,” he told Andile Ncube onSports Night Amplified.

“I will always find a way to make a deal happen. I don’t think that’s the issue here.

“I think it’s a case of – are they wanting the player now? For him to go there and not play is not the right thing in my opinion. He’s got to go there and play.

“Is he going to play? Those are the things that we are worrying about.”

Comitis says the priority is to ensure Witbooi joins a club where he can continue to play regularly and develop, particularly if he remains in South Africa.

He believes a move to another Premier Soccer League side would only be beneficial if the teenager was guaranteed meaningful playing time.

“If he’s going to overseas then he’s going with a purpose of getting to a point where he’s going to play regularly,” he continued.

“If he goes to a PSL club, he’s got to play, otherwise he’s going to go backwards.

“So is it the right time for him to go now? We need to debate that but there is nothing to talk about now because there are not any offers.

“But what we can’t do, we get to the end of the transfer window, then last minute we struck a deal and we’re left without a left-sided playmaker or a 10 that can help us win the league, and then we suffer the consequences.”

The Cape Town City chairman also confirmed that clubs from Major League Soccer have made enquiries about Witbooi.

In addition, the player has been invited to Bayern Munich, with Cape Town City currently considering whether he should take up the opportunity. Comitis said the trip would help the teenager measure himself against the standards expected at one of Europe’s leading clubs.

Witbooi has already experienced high-level opportunities abroad. He has had a trial at Chelsea and travelled to Sporting Lisbon after being invited by the Portuguese club.

“He’s been in trial at Chelsea, so he’s seen the best. He went to Sporting Lisbon by a request,” he added.

“We’ve got an invitation for him to go to Bayern Munich which we’re now considering, only just to keep him relevant for his own good to see which level he has to be reaching.”

For now, Cape Town City have no formal proposals to consider, and Comitis says any decision will depend on balancing Witbooi’s development with the club’s own ambitions. The club are also wary of losing a left-sided playmaker or number 10 late in the transfer window without enough time to find a replacement capable of helping them challenge for the league title.