Supersport United on Monday 10 February, announced on its social media that the versatile Aubrey Modiba has signed a new four and a -half-year contract keep him at the club until 2024, now the contact extension of Modiba and that one of Ronwen Williams is a strong message of intent to those outside and inside the club.
In recent years Supersport has been known as a selling club, offloading its best players to the traditional big three but mainly Mamelodi Sundowns.
That culture of selling to their direct rivals limited their league title credentials, although the club remained successful in terms of winning domestic trophies and reaching a continental cup final in recent seasons, they have yet to reach the highs of their three peat title winning run in the league and that is due to them selling their best players.
During the 2019 June transfer window Mamelodi Sundowns were in the market for two of Matsatsantsa's bright players Aubrey Modiba and Teboho Mokoena, Supersport United CEO Stan Matthews came out with a statement saying that the club will not sell their best players to local clubs and will only consider overseas offers.
Did I think Stan Matthews was bluffing? Yes. Did I think Mamelodi Sundowns would go on a relentless pursuit for the players? Yes, I believe they did. Did I think Supersport would give in? Yes, but they stood their ground and did not budge. Did that surprise me, yes.
The message was sent and delivered to those outside the club, rival competitors and the media, Supersport are no longer a selling club, they are not going to bend down to the wrath of the of big three giants of South African football.
Sometime during this season Ronwen Williams was rewarded with a new long term contract, this was very significant on two major aspects. One, the club had been tying down their longest serving player, who has, in recent years assumed a leadership role at the club, this will make sure the teams values and principles are preserved in the long run in the dressing room. Two, they had been keeping the best goalkeeper in the league and the South African national team number one goalkeeper. Above all, the club had kept its best player and you can only as a club compete when you keep your best players.
The extensions of Modiba and Williams sends shock waves within the dressing, showing the intentions management has of keeping the teams best players and a will to compete.
The likes of Teboho Mokoena, Sipho Mbule and Jamie Webber all signed contracts recently but should be expecting new deals as they will also be central to the project SuperSport are working towards. This core of players will go on and be one of the best in the league and some will be full time Bafana Bafana internationals, Modiba, Williams and Mokoena already in the fold.
This is good news for SuperSport, the services of the players mentioned above can also attract players of similar caliber in terms of quality and keep the young and squad players interested in the project the club is developing.
This transfer model of keeping your best players, taking the best players from lesser teams and signing rejects from the big three, will see Supersport make that jump of finally challenging for league honours again.
The biggest and most important acquisition for Supersport, was the one of head coach Kaitano Tembo. He is a product of the club, having played at the club; coached in the youth structures; was assistant coach and now head coach; he understands the management's culture and the traditions of the club and his heavily invested in the project.
Supersport are no longer a selling club and are working on project that will see them compete in the domestic and continental spheres.
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