Wits dictated the terms of Vilakazi sale

SIBUSISO Vilakazi’s sale to Mamelodi Sundowns – the biggest story of the transfer window so far – would have been dead in the water had the deal not included Cuthbert Malajila and Mogakolodi Ngele moving in the opposite direction, Bidvest Wits chief executive Jose Ferreira said this week.

This was one of the most drawn-out negotiations in the SA Premier Soccer League. Kaizer Chiefs had also shown interest in Vilakazi in the past, but found that Wits were not willing to let the 2014 Footballer of the Year go.

Ferreira would not say how much Sundowns paid to finally land the Bafana Bafana player last month, but was willing to disclose that without striker Malajila and attacking midfielder Ngele being used as a sweetener, Vilakazi would still be with the Clever Boys.

“One thing the club was adamant about was that the Vilakazi deal had to involve two players from Sundowns who we were interested in, not the ones Sundowns were prepared to offer us,” Ferreira explained.

“They wanted something from us, and they identified who that player was, so we told them that those were the players we were interested in. It was not negotiable, and this deal would not have happened if we did not get both the cash value we wanted for Vilakazi as well as the players we wanted from Sundowns. Perhaps that is why it took so long to get it done.”

Although vague, Ferreira ended speculation Malajila and Ngele had been signed on loan and would definitely return to Sundowns at the end of the upcoming season.

“Our club will determine their future. I have explained before that the players have come to us on a permanent transfer.

“Yes, the deal is one that is highly complicated in the way it’s structured. All that I can say is that the only reason Malajila and Ngele will not be with us at the end of this coming season is if Wits choose for it to be so.

“Not even Sundowns can determine their future, because it is entirely up to us.”