How Downs beat Chiefs to Matthews signing revealed?

Kaizer Chiefs were linked with the signing of Tashreeq Matthews, before Mamelodi Sundowns put their money where their mouth is. Owner Patrice Motsepe has not hid what gives them the advantage.

Chiefs reportedly showed serious interest to sign Matthews from his Swedish outfit IK Sirius during the course of last season after the 23-year-old topped the scoring charts in the Allsvenskan.

However, during the off-season, Sundowns did not waste time to acquire Matthews as one of their marquee signings, that included Matias Esquivel and Thembinkosi Lorch.

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What could have given Sundowns the advantage over Chiefs is that their participation in the African Football League has enhanced the financial incentives the players are set to get, in addition to the CAF Champions League ambitions and already big financial backing from billionaire owner Dr. Patrice Motsepe.

Dr. Motsepe, President of CAF, recalled how when he was the President of Sundowns they used to see the highest-paid players in Scandinavian countries and realized they can pay more than what the biggest earners get in those European leagues.

Motsepe, on his visit to Angola President João Lourenço, was answering a question on how the introduction of the AFL helps develop football in Africa.

The mining magnate suggested that the more clubs can pay their players well, the more the best talent can remain on the continent, as the AFL has added a new revenue stream to clubs.

"So you are 100% right, what we have to do is to show the players, we can pay them very well and compete with some of the European countries, there are some that will get big, big money in the big leagues, which is beautiful because we want