DURBAN - Cape Town City have rejected an offer from Turkish side Karubuspor for the services of their captain and Bafana Bafana attacker Lebogang Manyama.
The Citizens’ chairman John Comitis told Independent Media on Tuesday that they were not happy with what the Turkish club put on the table.
“Manyama had an offer from a Turkish side," he said without revealing the club's name. But Independent has been reliably informed that it is Karubuspor.
"I’m not happy with the offer. We have to wait and see whether they will come with something better or not. He is a quality player and he should be transferred at the right price”.
Manyama is South Africa's reigning Footballer of the Season, Players' Player of the Season and the holder of the Golden Boot.
He has travelled with the national team, Bafana, to the Cape Verde for the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier on Friday, with the return match scheduled for Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday.
Manyama was absent this past weekend when City beat Bidvest Wits in their MTN8 semi-final, first leg clash. His coach, Benni McCarthy, explained the omission of Manyama. He said he left the player because it look like his mind is elsewhere.
Mamelodi Sundowns are also said to be on the radar for Manyama but Comitis made it clear he won’t sell him to any PSL side.
“I won’t sell Manyama to a local team. In fact there are no offers for Manyama in South Africa. Even if there were any, I don’t have any intentions of selling Manyama locally,” Comitis explained.
City have started the season like a house on fire, winning all four games under the guidance of legendary former Bafana striker McCarthy, two of which were in the league and in the cup against Wits, ironically title holders of both competitions. They will contest the second leg of the MTN8 next week Sunday.
“I’m happy with the progress of the team though I feel we can even get better. We are winning but we are not playing good football. I want to see the combination of good football and the results. At this stage it is highly unlikely that we will make a signing ahead of the transfer window closing on Thursday,” Comitis concluded.
The Citizens, at home, will face struggling Kaizer Chiefs in the league on Wednesday, September 13.