Sundowns superstar has second thoughts committing to the club?

Mamelodi Sundowns seem to be the club top players in the country and beyond want to be at right now. 

Sundowns are dominating South African football, having recently won their seventh league title in a row. 

Furthermore, they’re always in the for a domestic up and are more or less guaranteed CAF Champions League football. That, for any player in and outside South African borders is more than enough of a selling point. If you want to win silverware, have the ambition to conquer Africa, then Sundowns is undoubtedly where you want to be plying your trade. 

But what happens when you have already been apart of that for a while? What happens when you want to take that next step? That, only being a new challenge abroad, if you are still in your prime and thriving at Sundowns. That particular grey area, is where midfielder Teboho Mokoena potentially finds himself in at the moment. 

Mokoena only joined Sundowns in the January transfer window of 2022, coming in from cross-town rivals SuperSport United. Before joining the Brazilians, he was also heavily linked with a move to Kaizer Chiefs. They then seemed to fall out of the race, with a club in Belgium joining and competing with Masandawana. In the end, it was the DStv Premiership champions that bid more and ended up getting his signature.

Since joining Sundowns, Mokoena has been a mainstay on their side. He has also been a transformed player under Rulani Mokwena, with his game going to another level. Since joining the club, he has won three league titles, MTN8, Nedbank Cup and African Football League Cup. Besides Mokwena, he has also found himself as a key cog in Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana midfield. 

Plenty of interest in Mokoena

With Mokoena having stellar performances for Bafana Bafana throughout Afcon, it’s no surprise that he would garner international interest. Clubs in the English Premier League and Ligue 1 are thought to be interested in the player. Even on the continent, he has suitors in Al Ahly.

It’s then perhaps no surprise that, according to SABC Sport, Mokoena and Sundowns are struggling to agree on a new deal. 

Contract talks with Sundowns at a stand still?

“SABC Sport understands that sporting director Flemming Berg has been given the mandate to ensure Downs (Sundowns) do not lose their key players, hence the decision to open talks to extend Mokoena’s current terms.  According to impeccable sources at Chloorkop, the public broadcaster has established that these discussions have reached a deadlock and nothing has been finalised yet despite such discussions having commenced prior to the AFCON.” Wrote the publication.

The midfielder’s deal at Chloorkop expires only in June 2026. Is this a sign that Mokoena is ready to leave Sundowns for a new adventure abroad?