Cape Town Spurs ban Mamelodi Sundowns scouts from Ikamva

The Mother City outfit claims Downs are making a habit out of poaching from their Ikamva [Xhosa for future] development academy to benefit Chloorkop in the long run. 

As recent as this month, The Brazilians signed six future stars from leading Western Cape teams – among them Cape Town Spurs, and this has rubbed the hierarchy up the wrong way. 

The following players: Zeke Felix, Anothando Menemene, Junaid Seedat, Selwyn Junior, Xavier Jodamus and Liam Marthinus were pictured posing wearing the Sundowns kit shortly after they were recruited. 

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“It is with great concern to note that Ikamva has recently become the hunting ground for Mamelodi Sundowns FC,” read the letter.   

Spurs said they were banning the reigning DStv Premiership champions from their premises, and this is likely to sour the relationship between the two clubs. 

“Sundowns have embarked on a strategy to recruit the best players in the country to strengthen the youth structures at Chloorkop. We have therefore taken the necessary steps to inform them, in writing, our disappointment on the way that they have conducted themselves in so doing. We have no choice but to bring to their attention that their staff, such as Tera Maliwa, or any other scouting members are prohibited from entering our premises and are no longer welcome,” it continued.  

Furthermore, Spurs alleged the Brazilians are being aided by agents in the market with intentions to broker deals for these players to move to Tshwane. 

“Our concerns have further been fuelled by certain agents who are part of this strategy to assist in the poaching of our young talent to a club like Sundowns. They too have been barred from Ikamva. Sundowns is currently a force in SA football and has built a reputation of the highest standard. The incredible resources that they have can be used to scout young players from every corner of this country. Our relationship with Sundowns over the years has been incredibly strong hence our surprise that at no stage where we contacted by them to inform us of their interest in our players,” elaborated the club.  

“When we wrote to them stating our concern almost 2 months ago, and again a week ago, after the recruitment of 12-year-old, Hlumile Tshaka, we did not even receive an acknowledgement of our communication to them. This is not the same Sundowns we have become accustomed to work with over the years. The Sky is the limit! The Sky is not at Ikamva!”