Sundowns to play hard ball with Maseko?

It's come to the Siya crew's attention that Mamelodi Sundowns are reluctant to release attacker Thapelo Maseko, who has once again attracted interest from Europe with clubs enquiring.

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The latest team to send formal communication to the reigning Premier Soccer League top-flight champions on Maseko is from Cyprus and it's understood they are not the only ones keen on the player.

Sundowns signed the 21-yearold from crosstown rivals SuperSport United for a figure well over R10 million two seasons ago to strengthen the side coached by Rhulani Mokwena at the time.

Maseko had in fact been the subject of interest from KV Westerlo in Belgium and SuperSport United CEO, Stan Matthews, was later on the record that the winger had been invited by an unnamed English Premier League team for trials.

But Matsatsantsa ended up selling Maseko to Sundowns with the player making an immediate impact by winning the Player of the Tournament for the inaugural African Football League and making the Bafana Bafana squad to the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d'Ivoire in February last year.

The season which began with Manqoba Mngqithi in charge and Miguel Cardoso then taking over after eight league matches has been tough on Maseko, who had managed 12 matches at the time of writing.

Sundowns, according to our sources, see the player as a bright prospect who is still within the right age to be one of their future stars.

His camp, on the other hand, are pushing for Maseko to get regular game time and are convinced it will not happen at Sundowns-hence the enquiry from Cyprus is now quite appealing.

But it's understood Downs are dragging their feet in showing any interest to sell the player and risk having the interested party walk away.

Hope for Coetzee at Downs?

It's been another difficult season for Mamelodi Sundowns' versatile player Rivaldo Coetzee, who now must wait to hear what the future holds for him at Chloorkop.