Fresh off the misfortune of scoring an own goal that booted his team out of the MTN8, Polokwane City defender Thabang Matuludi has addressed reports of a possible exit from the club ahead of the new league season.
The 22-year-old had a sensational full-debut season in the topflight of South African football, having been signed from the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
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Matuludi made 32 appearances last season and his efforts earned him a call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad that went to the 2023 COSAFA Cup that took place in the Eastern Cape in July.
Like teammate Oswin Appollis, he has been heavily linked with an exit from Rise and Shine ahead of the new campaign.
However, speaking to the media at the club's media open day, the 25-year-old insisted that his immediate focus was at City.
"No, it has not distracted me, media reports are media reports and so as long as my team has not spoken to me [about a move]...
"Maybe the team knows something, I don't know. I'm focused on my team, I have a contract with the team.
"I don't have any information about that [a possible move], I've also seen reports. I obviously have a contract with the team, so until the team says something to me.
"It [transfer speculation] does motivate me and gives me some confidence, to tell me that I'm on the right track. I'm doing the right things."
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Information reaching this website is the Polokwane City management are determined to keep hold of their in-demand star and have gone to some length in convincing the Bafana right back to stay put.
Matuludi put in a praiseworthy shift against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 quarterfinals on Sunday but was unlucky to bundle the ball into his own net after sublime through pass from Teboho Mokoena intended for Lucas Ribeiro Costa.