SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews has reiterated that his club does not favour deals with Mamelodi Sundowns, despite the latter’s financial muscle.

Matthews emphasized that if any PSL club offered him the same amount Sundowns paid for Kegan Johannes, he would not hesitate to accept the deal. Johannes became the 19th SuperSport player to join Sundowns.

“Over the course of the season, it’s not going to be easy for everyone can match Sundowns, they have got 45 odd registered players, they paid 3 million euros for player, I’m signing free agents and promoting players from the DDC,” said Matthews during the sleeve sponsor’s announcement of ADC Express on Tuesday. 

“It’s not a realistic comparison. If any club in South Africa offered me a deal for Kegan Johannes that Sundowns offered me, I would have signed a deal in five minutes, any club in South Africa. 

“It’s not a personal thing, I don’t have any relationship with Sundowns whatsoever. It feels great that every year, you look at the PSL awards, you look at the midfielder of the year, defender of the year, goalie of the year, everyone belongs to me. But that’s our reality, that’s our life and this is a life of football. You have big clubs that are able to do big things.  

“Real Madrid is chasing Trent Alexander-Arnold, he’s got one-year left with Liverpool, Moh Salah’s got one year left with Liverpool, so, if either of those players leave Liverpool for free, Liverpool have been dumped in the transfer market. 

“I don’t want to be dumped in the transfer market.”  

Matthews dismissed claims of favouritism towards Sundowns, highlighting the pain of losing players like Thatayaone Ditlhokwe to Kaizer Chiefs for free.

“I lost TT, my first dumb (decision) in 25 years,” he said. 

“I just couldn’t match the numbers that he wanted. But look at what Chiefs have done now; they have gone and bought Rushwin Dortley (from Cape Town Spurs), where TT players now.  

“Life is interesting for players when they make choices and I have to be true to my football club, I have to be true to my board, I have to be true to my budget.”    

The SuperSport boss emphasized the financial constraints affecting the club’s transfer strategy and the challenges of competing with bigger teams. He also revealed the intense nature of his relationship with coach Gavin Hunt, acknowledging their frequent disagreements but emphasizing their shared commitment to the club’s success.

“I have to be true to my head coach. You won’t believe, I disagree with Gavin Hunt every day, there is no person on earth I fight more than with Gavin. Gavin has saved my marriage because I never fight with my wife because I spend more time fighting with Gavin,” he said.

“But we fight for good reasons, we fight for the right things and we were both disappointed that we let it slip last year (in the chase for the league title).”

SuperSport will start the 2024/25 season when they visit Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 quarter finals this coming weekend.