Johannesburg - SuperSport United's transfer dealings over the last two seasons have shown a change in approach and type of players they recruit.
In the past, Matsatsantsa were credited with providing the breakthrough to Premiership superstars such as Teko Modise, Siboniso Gaxa, Katlego Mphela, Elias Pelembe, Katlego Mashego, George Maluleka, Daine Klate and Anthony Laffor.
In other words, they were known for signing burgeoning youngsters before they became household names.
The club then cashed in by selling some of those players to Premiership bigwigs Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
Today's Matsatsantsa though had different take to the transfer market, with the club targeting already accomplished players.
United's director of football Stan Matthews said the club was among the best in the country and should be challenging for top honours every season.
“SuperSport is an ambitious club that wants to compete for silverware every season. Over the years we have lost many great players and we felt that it was important to consolidate and bring in players who have leadership abilities that some of the younger players don't have,” Matthews said.
“What we have tried to do is invest in a few marquee players who bring experience to the team, and surround them with youngsters. The average age of our squad is 23. We are still a club that believes in development, but at the same time we need to balance that with our ambitions.”
Over the past 18 months the Pretoria club have signed familiar and well-known names like Thuso Phala, Michael Morton, Dino Ndlovu, David Mathebula, Bennett Chenene, Dove Wome and Clayton Daniels.
Most recently, United audaciously snatched striker Kingston Nkhatha from Chiefs.
Matsatsantsa caught the powerhouse club napping and, in a stunning move, signed the Zimbabwean striker to a pre-contract, with months remaining on his deal.
With Amakhosi vexed, United would go on to successfully negotiate an immediate transfer for the bulky forward.
In the January transfer window, United also looked to the overseas market signing New Zealand international striker Jeremy Brockie from Wellington Phoenix.
They have also brought back winger Klate, initially on loan, from Pirates for a second spell at SuperSport.
The tradition of developing promising talent, however, was not lost to the club. They still had exciting youngsters in Ronwen Williams, Thato Mokeke, Jino Moeketsi, Thabo Moloi and Morne Nel on their books.
United enjoyed their most successful era as a club while nurturing talent rather than buying ready-made players.
It remained to be seen whether or not the shift in policy would bear the same fruit as it did when they won three consecutive Premiership titles between 2008 and 2010.
Sapa