Matlaba brushes off comments

Cape Town - Orlando Pirates defender, Thabo Matlaba, is focused on helping the Bucs win the Carling Black Label Cup despite rumours saying the player is unhappy.

Matlaba was benched in a crucial game against Kaizer Chiefs in March and speculation has been increasing about the player’s desire to leave because of differences with head coach Vladimir Vermezovic.

The defenders agent, Abbie Rasimphi, has come out saying that legal action will be taken against whoever is “publishing malicious lies about the player.”

For the next 11 months no contract will be discussed with the Buccaneers Rasinphi has said although the left-back is in the last year of his contract with the club.

The 26-year-old has come out and said that he made it clear to the publication that he does not want to dicuss contract issues with the media and brushes off certain comments that were made up.

“I never said some of the things written there. The things about me saying that I want to be a legend at Pirates and stuff, I never said that,” Matlaba said to Soccer Laduma.

Amakhosi, who has been linked with a move for Matlaba, take on Pirates at 15:00pm on Saturday (July 23) for the Carling Black Label Cup and the former Free State Stars player is focused on the season ahead.

“I want to focus on my game and aim to do better. I have another season with Pirates and I want to play and perform the way that I have been doing and more.”