Milford prepared for more player exits following Sigomoshe move

The 26-year-old right-back played a key role as Milford secured promotion to the Betway Premiership before making the move to the defending champions, with Pupuma accepting that further departures could follow as his players attract attention.

The Milford boss says the club’s approach will remain centred on developing talent internally, with players already in the system expected to step up whenever key members of the squad move on.

"We always knew Ace was gonna go, he had a great season last season, so it was just a matter of time. I think against Magesi he had a knock which delayed his preseason and so we had to first sort him out,” Pupuma said.

“I'm an honest person so I don't want to create any enemies, so I wouldn't have agreed to let him go with an injury so we had to sort him out and we got him back. There are a few others that we were expecting that they would go with the big teams, so we're prepared for that. 

“If it comes to that we are not gonna hold anyone back but the offer or the deal has to be good for my player and I need to see that they are going to look after the boy. Then maybe we'll agree, it doesn't mean we'll agree any time somebody comes and knocks."

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Pupuma has also played down the need to chase established big-name signings to sustain Milford’s encouraging start to life in the top flight. 

He jokingly points to the players already in his squad as their own stars, while explaining that identifying and developing talent has always been part of the club’s philosophy.

"I have Menzi, I have Cele, I have Mthiyane, who's bigger than that? I have Mhleza, I have the big names. Look, I mean what we do in the team is we identify someone, like take Nomandela for instance and Mabena and Nqobi, he hasn't played yet, Mbhele,” he added. “These are players that I identified, followed for seasons. I followed for two seasons, Mabena maybe two and a half, we've got these names, we got quite a long list. 

“I mean we have two wingers now that Ace is gone, so we are working on trying to get one of those two wingers, so it's not someone that's gonna come from a big team, it's just gonna be another unknown that's gonna come and surprise you."