AGEING STAR IS FREE AGENT

Teko Modise will be a free agent at the end of this PSL season. Mamelodi Sundowns have confirmed that Teko Modise will be leaving at the end of the season, but coach Pitso Mosimane says he had not known of the player’s intentions before reading about it in the media.

Modise said last week this would be his last few months with the African champions, but felt that he still had two more seasons of play left in him.

“I didn’t know about it until I read it in the papers,” was the reaction from coach Pitso Mosimane. “But we have to respect his decision. He has been a great servant to the club and we have come a long way together.”

Modise has become an infrequent presence in the Sundowns’ line-up as the years begin to catch up with him.

The 34-year-old has won two league titles and a Champions League medal with Sundowns, and a total of 66 caps for South Africa.

His decision was greeted with little fanfare and Mosimane’s confirmation of the departure has also failed to attract the kind of headlines that Modise used to enjoy in his heyday.

He will be a free agent at the end of the season and available to join a club of his choice for the next campaign. Already Chippa United have said they are interested.

Modise was still a teenager when he debuted for Ria Stars in the Premier Soccer League in 2001, but spent four seasons honing his craft in the National First Division with City Pillars. He was named the top player of the division before Mosimane signed him for SuperSport United.

He left at the same time as Mosimane and joined Orlando Pirates for three and half seasons before moving to Sundowns in January 2011.

“What more is there left for him to do?” asked Mosimane.

“He’s won it all in the local game, played at the World Cup and African Nations Cup.”