KickOff can exclusively reveal that Mamelodi Sundowns rejected offers for one of their strikers.
Sundowns have been on the receiving end of accusations in the media of keeping players they don't use regularly, whose careers could benefit if they moved elsewhere.
The big squad at Masandawana means competition for places is fierce and even tougher for players coming through the DStv Diski Challenge side.
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After the success story of Cassius Mailula, who hit the ground running for the first team after being promoted from the reserve side, the Tshwane giants had another scoring sensation, Jerome Karelse, in the Diski Challenge.
Karelse was promoted to train with the first team during the course of last season, where he finished as the second-joint leading goal-scorer with 16 goals, along with SuperSport United attacker Shandre Campbell.
However, the 21-year-old had a disrupted 2023/24 season after he was not allowed to play for the Diski Challenge side following his promotion.
Warren Swartz, CEO of ProAthlete Management Agency, has revealed that they had issues with Sundowns not allowing Karelse to play in the DDC to get game-time, as he was not offered opportunities in the first team.
"Jerome, we had some problems with Sundowns because of game-time. We requested [for him] to leave, but they didn't want him to go," Swartz told KickOff, in an exclusive interview.
"Remember, he is from the DDC and he made a step [up] to the first team. For some reason, they froze him out of the DDC team as well, so he wasn't playing for some time.
"That is why we requested to terminate, but Sundowns refused. They said they feel they still value him, they can use him. So, we've been engaging for almost close to two months," Swartz said.
"Last season, Jerome was scoring goals left, right and centre and then he went to the first team. We said at least he should play in the DDC for game-time, but that didn't happen.
"It was a case of, 'Guys, yes, we understand that the pecking order at Sundowns is difficult [for him] to get into the first team. At least play him at DDC'.
"But it didn't happen."
Swartz went on to reveal that they had offers from other PSL teams for the services of Karelse.
"Then there was a request from other teams in the PSL, which Sundowns know about. But I think they still want to use him, they refused to let him go."
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However, the issues have been sorted out, as Karelse is back fighting for his place on both fronts.
"But all has been sorted out now, he's back training with the team fighting for his place, in both teams," Swartz assured.
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