European Interest & Contracts Rejected: Should Sundowns Worry?
Kutlwano Letlhaku is believed to have attracted interest in Europe. Image: Gallo Images
It’s been an interesting time with Sundowns youngsters attracting attention abroad, and reports have revealed that players such as Kutlwano Letlhaku and Gomolemo Kekana have rejected contract offers from the club in recent times.
Letlhaku, as previously reported, has caught the attention of clubs in Europe, while Kekana is seeking an improved offer to the one he has received from the Tshwane giants.
How Sundowns manage the situations of their young players who are attracting overseas interest will be important, because they could find themselves in a place where a lot more of them are rejecting contract offers.
With some of the players getting a chance to showcase their talent on international stages such as the under-20 Africa Cup of Nations and the under-20 FIFA World Cup, it means European scouts are watching and taking note of the talent.
This is why Arendse believes it’s important for Sundowns to act early by giving contracts to young players who they feel have a long-term future at the club.
“I would not say it’s something to worry about. When you have players playing in the junior national teams, obviously they are going to be exposed to the world, so it means you as a club need to show confidence in the players and tie them down (with contracts) and not wait for European teams to offer these boys contracts and then you want to also (offer),” he said.
“Maybe it’s just a timing thing, but I don’t think there is anything to worry about because it shows that they are producing players. The question is, how do we keep the players with us?” Arendse said to Soccer Laduma.
“And obviously for the players, their agents are talking in their ear and saying, ‘Listen here, there’s interest in Europe. Don’t sign now and let’s wait and see’. Ultimately, players want to move to Europe as soon as possible because that’s how Europeans operate; they buy you young so that they can sell you.
“It’s a tricky one, but maybe it’s just a timing thing. They need to tie these boys down (to contracts) early and make it worthwhile for and also give them a chance to play at a competitive level. Sometimes, it’s about laying down the plan for these boys and making them feel important for the long-term future of Sundowns. Sometimes, the players feel they might not play, so it’s about player management so that the players don’t reject the offers (from Sundowns).”
Sundowns face the possibility of losing Letlhaku and Kekana for free if the players don’t sign new deals.
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