Former Racing Strasbourg striker Lebo Mothiba has clarified that his June visit to Kaizer Chiefs was not for a potential player transfer, but rather to present his new South African-based agency to the club.
Mothiba, who has established an agency with his brother to scout and develop young talent for European clubs, explained that the visit aimed to introduce his business and its partnership with his renowned European agent, Ludo.
“I have an agency now in South Africa…,” he told FARPost. “It’s me and my brother … but we work with the boss himself, Ludo, my agent.” Mothiba told FARPost.
“He’s based in Europe. He’s so prominent in Europe that he works with big clubs, such as PSG, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Napoli.
“I told him there’s so much talent in South Africa. For me, South African players deserve to play in Europe’. It pains me to see South African talent go to waste. Or that talent not making it in Europe.”
Mothiba emphasized his desire to provide opportunities for South African players to showcase their skills on the European stage.
“I decided to open that agency, and my brother and I would run it. We’ll scout players for Ludo in South Africa. We’ll look for the best young players in South Africa and tell him about them so that we can take them to Europe. It’s easy for him to bring any players to Europe.
“He can speak to the clubs in Spain, France, and Germany because he has a lot of connections in Europe.
“That was my goal…. That’s my project after football. I’ll be working with my agent. I’ll be taking South African players to Europe.
“That’s why I was at the [Kaizer Chiefs] village; I went there to present the agency and who I’m working with. When I was there, I told them why I was there.
“While I was there, we got to speak to Ludo, and he told them who he was. After that, I saw everywhere that Lebo was at the Village, and it’s a done deal.”
Mothiba’s visit to Naturena had sparked transfer rumors, particularly given Chiefs’ search for a striker at the time.
Meanwhile, Mothiba has fully recovered from a knee injury and is back to full fitness with his current club, Strasbourg. “Right now, I would say the injury is finished, and I’m done with rehabilitation. I am back. I’m 100 per cent fit,” he said.
“I’m 100% back. I have no pain in my knee, even after my training sessions, because I’m still training with Strasbourg, doing everything with Strasbourg with the team.”