Confusion had clouded Christian Saile’s switch from Kaizer Chiefs to SuperSport United during the January transfer window.
That being said, SuperSport United’s Chief Executive Officer, Stan Matthews, has stepped forward to definitively clarify the nature of the deal.
The 25-year-old Democratic Republic of Congo international forward made the move to Matsatsantsa, coinciding with Tashreeq Morris’s transfer in the opposite direction to the Soweto giants.
Read: Mandla Masango urges Kaizer Chiefs to remain humble ahead of the Nedbank Cup final
Since his arrival, Saile has featured in 12 matches across all competitions for SuperSport, contributing two goals to their campaign. One of those goals was against Kaizer Chiefs in the Betway Premiership as SuperSport United put four past the Sowetans.
Adding to the initial ambiguity was former SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt’s public statements regarding the signing. In February, Hunt expressed his lack of involvement in the decision-making process and even hinted at the possibility of Saile being a loan signing.
He stated, “Christian, he was never in our thought process. He was never in the [club’s plans] to come here,” said Hunt in February. “He just got thrown in my lap. They said, ‘Listen, Morris is going and we’re getting Saile’. I said, ‘Oh, okay, what will I do with him?’ So I’ve got to try and find what I need to do with him.
“But he’s got two to three goals, but he needs a lot of work. There are a lot of things we need to do.
Hunt further added to the uncertainty by saying, “But he’s not our player. I think he goes back to [Chiefs], but I’m not sure. I’m not in the boardroom.”
However, Matthews has now unequivocally addressed these uncertainties. Speaking to FARPost, the SuperSport United CEO confirmed the permanent nature of Saile’s transfer.
Furthermore, Matthews revealed the club’s long-term commitment to the player, stating, “Saile’s move was permanent, we have options to extend to 2027/28 [season].” This declaration firmly establishes Saile as a contracted player for SuperSport United, with the potential for his stay to extend for several seasons.
Prior to joining SuperSport United, Saile had demonstrated his attacking prowess during his time with Kaizer Chiefs, where he registered seven goals and provided four assists.
This track record suggests the potential value SuperSport United sees in the Congolese attacker as they look to bolster their squad. Matthews’s clarification provides much-needed certainty regarding Saile’s future with the club, moving beyond the initial confusion surrounding his arrival.