Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker has opened up on what does not sit well with him about Sibongiseni Mthethwa's transfer to Kaizer Chiefs.
Mthethwa was permanently transferred to Chiefs last week and joined the Glamour Boys on a three-year deal after Amakhosi activated a buy-out clause in his contract.
Although Barker says he does not have an issue with Chiefs triggering the 29-year old's buy-out clause, what disappoints him is big teams making late signings from small clubs in the transfer window, which disrupts their plans.
Read: Chiefs/ Downs Penalty Incident To Spark PSL Into VAR Action?
The experienced tactician suggested that it's unfair on small teams to lose their players to big teams, who decide they need to reinforce their squad after a bad start while the season is already underway.
Chiefs signed Mthethwa two days before the close of the transfer window.
Speaking to the media after his side beat Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 second leg semi-final, but failed to progress to the final, the coach implied that his side felt the void of the missing midfield strongman.
"I don't want to talk too much on the transfer because as you know it has happened and it's done and unfortunately it was about a clause on his contract which was triggered, so there's not much we could do," Barker said in a post-match press conference over the weekend.
"We always knew all along that if that happens, there's nothing we can do.
"It's a pity the window stayed (only for) so long open, it's unfair on smaller teams like us, you start the season well, players do well and then all of a sudden maybe one or two other teams they don't start as well, they find that they might need something and then it does make it difficult (to get a replacement)," he added.
Read: Chiefs Deserved Late Penalty? Ntseki Responds!
Mthethwa was one of the influential players at Stellies and played a key role in the Western Cape side limiting Orlando Pirates to just a 2-1 win in the semi-final first leg clash after they played the entire second stanza with ten men.
The Maroons could not have 'Ox''s services for the second leg after he was signed by Chiefs three days prior.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
