Downs blow as Wits reject Motupa transfer request

Pitso Mosimane’s plan to bolster the Mamelodi Sundowns attack has been dealt yet another blow with news that Gift Motupa’s transfer request to leave Bidvest Wits and join his star-studded

Chloorkop outfit has been rejected.

The Siya crew first broke the news on Sundowns’ interest in the Clever Boys’ top goalscorer on January 10, with Motupa understood to be pushing for the move to the reigning Absa Premiership champions while he is still in red-hot form.

It’s unlikely now that the switch will take place during this current January transfer window, with sources revealing to the crew that an appeal from the player to be allowed to leave has been denied by the Wits management.

Motupa, who still has a contract with the club until June 2022, told the media last week that he would be more than willing to join Sundowns, but only if Wits gave him the green light. That’s not happened – and it looks as though he will be staying put for now.

“It’s good to be linked to a team like Sundowns, but I can’t talk about that one. But it is good in the sense that Sundowns compete in the CAF Champions League every year and every player would love to have that experience and win more trophies. So far, over the last six years, they have been winning more trophies than every team in the PSL – everyone would love to play for that team. If you have the quality, why not join the best?” he said when receiving his Player of the Month accolade for December.

Motupa has scored 11 goals in 20 matches for Wits this season.