Sundowns and Teboho Mokoena deadlocked in latest contract talks
teboho-mokoena-09-may-2024
Following his performance at the Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] with Bafana Bafana, where the side led by coach Hugo Broos clinched the bronze medal on the continental stage, Mokoena was one of the standout players and was named in the CAF team of the tournament.
As a result, there has been widespread speculation around interest in the talisman from Europe, North Africa and the Gulf States, but Sundowns want to instead offer the 27-year-old a new deal.
Mokoena joined The Brazilians in January 2022 from crosstown rivals SuperSport United and remains contracted to the club until June 2026 including options.
His impact since the transfer has been evident, with Mokoena crowned Footballer of the Year last season as Downs won the DStv Premiership, which they have defended yet again during the 2024/25 campaign with the Bethlehem-born star once again an integral part.
SABC Sport understands that sporting director Flemming Berg has been given the mandate to ensure Downs 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.
Sundowns announced a week ago that shot stopper Ronwen Williams, who was also part of the Bafana squad in Cote d’Ivoire and was voted Goalkeeper of the Tournament after his heroics, had put pen to paper to extend his stay until June 2028.
Williams and Mokoena were teammates at SuperSport and joined Sundowns six months apart in the same year. Berg has been successful in negotiating terms for the keeper, but it appears as though it is going to take further deliberations behind the scenes to get Mokoena over the line.
SABC Sport approached both Sundowns and Mokoena’s representatives for further clarity on the said contract impasses.
“As a principle, MSFC never comments on player’s contractual negotiations and consider it an internal matter. MSFC has, however, clarified that Teboho Mokoena currently has two more seasons [with the club] after this current season,” Downs responded.
Glyn Binkin, the player’s long-time agent, also preferred to keep a lid on the latest, saying “Negotiations were at a very delicate stage currently and I would not want to prejudice such discussions at this moment.”