Johannesburg - Bidvest Wits head coach Gavin Hunt revealed that the club could not match the high wages Mamelodi Sundowns are paying Sibusiso Vilakazi.
The Brazilians poached Vilakazi from Wits in a blockbuster deal that saw Mogakolodi Ngele and Cuthbert Malajila go the opposite direction.
Vilakazi has risen to prominence in the last few season after outstanding performances which ended with him being crowned the 2014/15 Footballer of the Season.
"He was no longer the same. Now he is going to earn a s**t load of money and good luck to him. He will set himself up for life now," Hunt told The Sowetan.
"That is money we would never have been able to pay. I did not want to lose him, but it's good for him. It was the right time to leave. I liked him.
"What we need to worry about is Ngele and Malajila, who we got from Sundowns. Malajila's condition was not good, same as Ngele.
"They did not play, so we need to get them right. They are certainly better than what we had, without a doubt."