SuperSport United have chosen to leave midfielder Sipho Mbule out of their Nedbank Cup encounter against Maritzburg United.
On Wednesday, the two teams will face off in the Last 32 at the Harry Gwala Stadium, with kick-off set for 18:00.
And when it came time to name their starting lineup for the match, Mbule’s name was conspicuously absent from the list.
Mbule last featured for SuperSport United in the 2-2 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns on 24 November 2021.
The 23-year-old would go on to miss his side’s six consecutive games, meaning this is the seventh successive match that SuperSport United play without him.
What’s unclear is whether or not his omissions have anything to do with the fact that he was denied his dream move to Kaizer Chiefs.
In January, Mbule hogged the headlines after Matsatsantsa ignored inquiries and offers made for his services.
Chiefs inquired about Mbule’s availability while Sundowns were confirmed to be the only team that tabled a concrete offer.
Towards the end of January, Mbule’s boss at SuperSport United, Stanley Matthews, went hard on the midfielder following the sale of Teboho Mokoena to Sundowns.
Matthews spoke about how Mbule has failed to reach his full potential since joining SuperSport United, and that the South Africa international was overweight.
The comments didn’t sit with Mbule’s agent Mike Makaab who confirmed addressing the matter with Matthews.
If the comments genuinely upset Makaab, then one can imagine the damage it caused to Mbule BUT its unclear if his omission, this time around, has anything to do with that.