R30m Or Nothing For Mokwana
Rising star Elias Mokwana has become one of the sought-after players in the DStv Premiership, with a move to one of the Big Three seemingly a real possibility in only his second season in the topflight. He is having an impressive second campaign with Sekhukhune United, having joined the club last year from Polokwane City Rovers in the second tier. The player's impressive performances have also earned him the recognition of hard-to-please Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who included him in the provisional squad for the recent FIFA World Cup qualifiers, although the midfielder didn't make the final 23-man team for the two matches against Benin and Rwanda respectively. Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns have been monitoring the player with a keen eye, with the indications that both giants have initiated talks about possibly signing Mokwana, according to sources. Meanwhile, the player's employers at Sekhukhune are understood to be willing to listen to offers for the star, though any of the potential suitors will have to be prepared to pay big as he is on a long-term contract and has age on his side.
What the Siya crew has been told…
Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns have made their intentions clear with their interest in signing Elias Mokwana, with both clubs understood to have made contact with Sekhukhune United to initiate talks. The player is viewed as a prized asset at Babina Noko, with the club said to also harbouring plans to potentially sell him overseas, should he be scouted during their ongoing CAF Confederation Cup campaign. According to sources, as the season progresses and with the 24-year-old improving, his price tag has also been increasing.
"Sekhukhune have shown that they aren't a club that doesn't stand in a player's progress and they are all about giving opportunities to allow for growth. That's why Yusuf Maart was sold to Chiefs at the time he was one of the club's top players. The same is likely to happen for Elias Mokwana," said a source.
"Like Maart, Mokwana came from nowhere, so to speak, and has been allowed to grow with the team. The club is pleased with his progress, but that won't stop them from selling him if a good offer is received," the source added.
"Chiefs and Sundowns are interested in the player and talks have been initiated between the parties. But for any club that will sign him, it's likely to be at the end of the season as the player is still very much in the plans at Sekhukhune for the current campaign," the source continued.
Mokwana is understood to be left with three more years on his contract with the Johannesburg-based Limpopo outfit. Babina Noko are looking for anything in the region of R30 million in their latest evaluation of their star man, according to informants.
"The club is looking for around R30 million for the player. That's what Sundowns' representatives were told when they enquired. This is a talented player who's got age on his side and the club believes that he is an asset who can make them a lot of money," an insider revealed.
"It was Chiefs who enquired first and at the time, the player was valued at R15 million. The asking price has since skyrocketed after the player was called up to the provisional Bafana Bafana squad. The club believes that he is on the radar of the senior national team coach and with a chance to make the Afcon squad at the start of next year. That would boost his chances of making an overseas move," the informant added.
According to sources, Orlando Pirates, for their part, are understood to be monitoring the player's situation from a distance with not a single word from their side as of yet…
What Are The Facts?
Mokwana has been one of the most consistent players for his position in the league, having started 11 out of 13 DStv Premiership matches for Sekhukhune this season. Of the two goals he scored, one was against Amakhosi in September, giving the Soweto giants an opportunity to have a closer look at him.
In the Confederation Cup, he is gaining valuable experience, having already made appearances in all of the team's seven matches. Last season, the winger had an impressive 26 appearances in the league under his belt and was directly involved in four goals overall, leaving his former coach Brandon Truter impressed with his progress.
Talking about the speedy attacker's talent last May, Truter told the media,
"The Mokwana boy is now coming alive, everybody is taking notice of him. I believe he will, in the next two or three seasons, be one of the bigger players in the league. The boy has so much potential and talent that should be nurtured properly. When I came in, he was nowhere close."
The Story Behind The Scenes
Age in his favour for Chiefs
In line with Chiefs' Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jnr's plans to reduce the average age within the squad, there has been notable emphasis on the younger players joining the club in recent times. Except for a few exceptions, Amakhosi have been all about talented young players being recruited and, at only 24, Mokwana is at the right age as per the Sporting Director's vision for the Soweto giants. Last year, Motaung Jnr was frank in saying that youth is part of the club's strategy under his leadership and that age reduction would be of utmost importance in planning for the future.
"The issue of age is what has been looked at in identifying Mokwana as a target for Chiefs ad they believe he is at the right age as per the club's new strategy and vision. Also, Chiefs have a good relationship with Sekhukhune, and they managed to convince them to sell Yusuf Maart, who is still under 30 years old. Sekhukhune once had a promising player on loan from Chiefs by the name of (Sibusiso) Milazi and therefore you can say it is work in progress between the two clubs in terms of their relationship," a source noted.
Downs to offer cash plus players
The Tshwane giants are believed to be willing to offer cash plus players for Mokwana to join them at the end of the season. With their involvement in the different competitions on the domestic and continental fronts, they have prioritised further strengthening again in the new campaign and Mokwana is one of the top targets. The exchange of players, either on loan on permanently, has been noticeable between Sundowns and Sekhukhune in recent seasons as the likes of Bafana defender Nyiko Mobbie, Sammy Seabi, Thabang Sibanyoni and Siphesihle Mkhize have been transferred. The two clubs enjoy a healthy working relationship, which may likely to continue, according to insiders.
"The two clubs like doing business and there is a great understanding between their officials. For example, with this player (Mokwana) wanted by different clubs, don't be surprised if a move to Sundowns is prioritised. Sundowns is likely to offer what Sekhukhune is looking for in terms of the figures, or something close, and there's a possibility of one or two players being added to sweeten the deal," said the source.
"There are players who haven't been playing much at Sundowns and one or two of them could form part of the deal."
Pirates/Sekhukhune swap possible
The Siya crew has been reliably informed that Babina Noko have set sights on Pirates' Fortune Makaringe with a view to sign him. While the Soweto giants' plans for the versatile player are not yet known as he is understood to be nearing the end of his contract, his situation with regards to game-time has changed after he was switched to playing in defence. Depending on the seriousness of their interest in Mokwana, Bucs may look to listen to enquiries for Makaringe for a possible swap deal to be concluded.
"What you should know by now is that Pirates will do everything to get their target in these kinds of situations. They are very smart in how they go about negotiating for their target," said the source.
"It's just that it isn't clear at this point how concrete their interest is in Mokwana. Maybe during the Afcon break we may have a clear picture of where they stand."
Secret Agent
The Siya crew spoke to a top agent in SA to get their expert understanding on what's going on. For obvious reasons, the agent will remain anonymous.
"For a 24-year-old player, I would prioritise taking him overseas. That would be what I aim for, especially with Afcon also coming (up) and if he gets selected. I would look at the possibility of taking him to the MLS as some of the PSL players have gone there in recent times. That seems to be the right market right now, but if an opportunity for a big PSL club is all that he's got, then why not? He is a good player and has got all the qualities to make it in football. Him being contracted at Sekhukhune would require that he gets the blessings of the club for the move to happen, but from what I hear, the club wouldn't stand in his way and that's what would make the move less complicated."
Watch His Space
With the demands of running a football club at the highest level and the finances involved, it is fast becoming difficult for any club owner to reject an opportunity to make money to balance the books. Players' salaries keep soaring and the day-to-day running of a club needs careful consideration, especially with sponsors hard to come by these days in football, and therefore one of the few ways of making money in this business is through selling players. Mokwana's possible exit from Babina Noko will come down to money. Sekhukhune will go with the highest bidder, and it is very unlikely that the club would turn down millions if the figures that are being bandied about are anything to go by. For Maart, the club was said to have made in the region of R5 million last year and were satisfied, and therefore anything upwards of R15 million would be appealing for the side.
