Mamelodi Sundowns’ Thapelo Maseko future rests with club, says Miguel Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says there is no disagreement between him and Thapelo Maseko, but the club will decide whether the winger leaves amid reported interest from Europe.

Maseko did not travel with Sundowns for their pre-season tour of Austria following an impressive FIFA World Cup with Bafana Bafana. Reports have since suggested the Tshwane club rejected several offers from European sides for the player.

The 22-year-old still has two years remaining on his Sundowns contract, meaning the club will determine whether to accept any further bids before the transfer windows in most European countries close at the end of August or in early September.

Cardoso said he had spoken directly to Maseko and made it clear that the player remained welcome at Sundowns. However, he added that any decision about a possible transfer was now beyond the coach’s control.

“First of all, between coach Miguel and Thapelo Maseko, there’s no issues. Yesterday (Friday) I had a beautiful talk with Maseko. When I was asked of the situation of Maseko, obviously we had to understand if he wanted to stay with us or no because I don’t want to work with players who don’t want to be part of our group, so my question on Thapelo even when we spoke is ‘my heart is open for you, the team is open for you. If you want to join us and stay with open heart with us’. Obviously, when Thapelo says ‘I want to go other place’, then it becomes a club’s question and not the coach’s question,” Cardoso told media after Sundowns’ MTN8 quarterfinal victory over Polokwane City.

Maseko spent the second half of last season on loan at AEL Limassol in Cyprus, where he revived his career after struggling to establish himself in the Sundowns first team.

Before moving to Cyprus, Maseko had at one stage been playing DStv Diski Challenge football and was reportedly unhappy with his position at the club. His performances for AEL Limassol helped him regain confidence and earned him a place in Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana squad for the World Cup.

He went on to play and score during the tournament, but his immediate future with Sundowns remains uncertain as he seeks a move away from the club.

Cardoso said he was not involved in the details of negotiations between Sundowns and interested clubs, while praising Maseko’s character and development.

“I am not deeply inside the conversations that happen, so I cannot give more explanations rather than say Thapelo is a wonderful boy and we like him very much. Obviously he would have that spell in Cyprus and he did very well. He got emotionally in a very good place, then he went to the World Cup and got a chance to play and even to score. Look, me and him we exchanged messages throughout the competition, and I think even helped him to understand how he had to put energy on what he was doing and now it’s up to the club, depending the rights of the club of course and trying to see what is best.”

The former SuperSport United winger’s situation is therefore likely to remain unresolved until Sundowns assess the available offers and decide what they believe is best for the club.