Former Orlando Pirates winger Lebohang Mokoena has revealed his mysterious move to Sundowns after alleged disciplinary issues, among a long list of troubled Buccaneers stars transferred to the Brazilians over the years.
Mokoena came through the development ranks at the Sea Robbers and was promoted in 2003 and spent six years at the club during the 'Happy People' era.
However, 'Cheeseboy' had a fallout with former coach Ruud Krol in 2009, who allegedly questioned his work ethic and lifestyle and subsequently excluded him from his training sessions.
A couple of years later, Krol also had a run-in with former Pirates star midfielder Teko Modise for alleged disciplinary issues and after he was excluded from training, he was subsequently sold to Sundowns in 2011.
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Mokoena has now told his side of the story and revealed that he did not know about his deal to join Pirates and was just smuggled to the Chloorkop offices by his then agent Mike Makaab, without knowing what was happening after his fallout with Krol.
"Mike Makaab called me and asked to meet me. They wanted to put me in the boot of a car. I left my car at Woodmead and entered the car of ProSport, sitting at the back I could see the way leading to Midrand, I said to myself, 'We're going to Chloorkop here'," Mokoena revealed on TK Solutions TV YouTube Channel.
"Suddenly I saw yellow walls, before we got there, they said I should lay down flat in the back seat. They told me 'Don't get out of the car, so Sundowns players don't see you' and after they went to the training ground, we went inside.
"I don't know how they negotiated with Pirates, mind you I still have a contract with Pirates, since Krol said, 'You, don't ever come back'. We went to the office, here is the contract, the agent, they explained to me that Pirates are releasing you. I went there to sign my contract (personal terms). A day later I saw (the newspaper) front page: 'Mokoena leaves Bucs, joins Sundowns'. At that time I didn't know anything, even till today, I cannot explain my move (to Sundowns)," he said.
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Mokoena is among a long list of former Pirates stars who were transferred to the Brazilians after disciplinary issues at the Soweto giants, including the late Gift Leremi, Innocent Mdledle, Modise and Oupa Manyisa, among others.
Currently, the Buccaneers' talisman Thembinkosi Lorch has been going through disciplinary issues at the club after he was suspended by the Soweto giants (his suspension has since been lifted) following his gender-based violence case, where he was sentenced by the Randburg Magistrate's Court for assaulting his ex-girlfriend, although his three-year sentence was suspended.
Lorch also faced disciplinary proceedings at Pirates in 2020, where he pleaded guilty, apologized and was sanctioned by the club for his "misdemeanor".
The 30-year-old's disciplinary problems has raised speculation that sooner or later he could join the Pirates bad boy list to be transferred to Sundowns.
The Brazilians reportedly showed interest in the Bafana Bafana forward in the previous transfer window and it remains to be seen if they would reignite their interest in the January transfer business.