SuperSport United have done something many Gauteng clubs have failed dismally at, that's getting the best out of players from Cape Town.
It's well-documented that Capetonians usually struggle when they move to Gauteng to play for the province's Premiership clubs, having witnessed this with the likes of Franklin Cale, Erwin Isaacs, Carlo Scott, and Eleazar Rodgers among many other players.
However, SuperSport seem to know the secret for turning rough Cape diamonds into something special. Mother City-born youngsters such as Jamie Webber, Jesse Donn, Luke Fleurs, Kegan Johannes and Keenan Phillips have adapted seamlessly to Gauteng life at SuperSport. Fellow Cape lad at Matsatsantsa Iqraam Rayners's progress has been blighted by injuries but he has shown glimpses of brilliance when fit.
Webber, Donn, Fleurs, Johannes and Phillips are the pillars of the reinvented Matsatsantsa outfit. Webber, 24, joined SuperSport from Stellenbosch in 2018. The gifted holding midfielder formed a solid midfield combination with Teboho Mokoena and Sipho Mbule last season, though the duo contributed more than him.
It's only this season that Webber has really stepped up, proving to be the Tshwane side's main man with 21 league starts in 25 appearances, where he scored three times and grabbed three assists.
Donn's meteoric rise is the reason he has received a couple of Bafana Bafana call-ups in recent months. Donn linked up with Matsatsantsa from his boyhood side Ubuntu Cape Town in 2019. Initially, the 23-year-old central midfielder struggled to break into the playing squad but the departure of long-serving skipper Dean Furman paved way for him with many now seeing him as the heir to the departed skipper's midfield throne.
Fleurs was one of a few standout performers for SA at last year's Tokyo Olympics. The 22-year-old centre-back has plugged the gap left by seasoned centre-halves Clayton Daniels and recently Bongani Khumalo. Fleurs joined SuperSport from Ubuntu in 2017. The towering defender has already racked up 55 appearances in a Matsatsantsa shirt.
Johannes joined Matsatsantsa from Cape Town Spurs, formerly Ajax Cape Town, last August. At 21, the utility right-back has shown big-game temperament, having performed exceptionally against Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs. Despite being a defender, Johannes has two goals to his name from 14 DStv Premiership games thus far this term.
Phillips joined SuperSport in October 2020 after his then club Bidvest Wits ceased to exist. To date, Phillips has garnered 45 appearances in all competitions for SuperSport. The diminutive right-back has shown no signs of being home sick.
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