Sipho Mbule’s agent Mike Makaab has explained why Orlando Pirates signed the midfielder amid reports that Kaizer Chiefs were also in the frame.
Mbule was a surprise Pirates signing early this week, days after Makaab confirmed that he had been offered to Chiefs, but the prominent agent says there was a lot at play and the Glamour Boys were not the only club interested.
“A lot of people have said why do you have to phone clubs, why don’t clubs phone you. Sometimes clubs do phone me, sometimes agents phone clubs, particularly if you have good relationships,” Makaab explained on Gagasi FM as quoted by iDiski Times.
Who else was interested in Sipho Mbule?
“Sipho Mbule with all his issues, is a top-class football player and it was always my opinion that he would either go to a club in North Africa, we had a lot of interest in the Middle East, particularly from three clubs in Dubai, and then we were of the opinion that it would be a big club in South Africa that would be interested or could sign him.”
Makaab then defended himself against accusations that he uses one club to get a player to another , as it has been claimed that he used the Chiefs interest to entice Pirates into signing Mbule.
“This business about making these misconceptions regarding, I deal with Mamelodi Sundowns in one way, Kaizer Chiefs in another way, Pirates in a different way, Sekhukhune United… it’s not true at all,” he added.
Agent sets record straight on accusations
“One thing I’ll never do, and I’ve been accused of this, take a player and try to market the player to get another club interested – absolutely not.
“Truth of the matter is that of course we were talking to a few clubs, of course there was interest but I’m going to this and I’m going to say this for the last time – football clubs have a right to make decisions. Not based up on what general consensus is.
“No football club in the world signs a player because they believe that’s what it’s fanbase wants.”
Mbule reportedly signed a one-year contract, with the option to extend for a further two at Pirates, and will be one of the players new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou will be relying on.
