Harmony Academy coach Pitso Mokoena has revealed that he was against his former prodigy, Teboho Mokoena, joining Mamelodi Sundowns in the January transfer window.
Teboho left SuperSport United to join cross-town rivals Sundowns for an undisclosed fee. The Bafana Bafana international moved to Chloorkop on a three-and-a-half-year deal with an option of an additional year.
When Mokoena was asked why he was against Teboho’s move to Bafana Ba Style, the ex-coach said: “Firstly, we talked about that move when he told me that Sundowns is interested in signing him. I didn’t like him to go to Sundowns.
“For me, it was a case of the number of the players who play at the same position as him. I had counted the number of players before Hlompho [Kekana] left Sundowns. They have the likes of Coetzee, Mvala, Jali etc. Then I told him I don’t see you playing because you will be number seven in that position; that’s the only thing I discouraged him from going there.
“Look at the players that are there. Even the coaches struggle to keep the same player to play four games in a row. They rotate the players because they are good.”
Mokoena went on to divulge why, in the end, Teboho decided to join Masandawana despite him advising him otherwise.
“He told me, coach, I have to make money while my legs are still carrying me. And I understood him because the offer from Sundowns, to be honest, as far as I know, it’s much better for the boy to live and save,” Mokoena told FARPost.
“Nonetheless, he had the confidence in himself to say, ‘coach, I know, but the offer or the money is influencing my decision, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to work hard’. And, personally, me knowing Teboho, he does things.”
Meanwhile, Mokoena hailed the impact of Teboho on the Brazilians since he arrived at the club, as he has appeared entirely familiar with his new teammates and having scored on his debut when Downs defeated Chippa United 2-0 in a league clash.
“The boy has been performing very well so far as if he has been there for quite some time. His performance in the league and Caf shows how he has fitted well in Sundown’s squad,” he added.
Ever since joining the reigning DStv Premiership champions, the 25-year-old central-midfielder has played 14 games and found the back of the net on two occasions across all competitions.
The Bethlehem-born footballer recently won his first Premier Soccer League title with the Tshwane-based outfit, who are still left with four games to play.
