Local football agent Mike Makaab is putting out the fires after a rather surprising revelation that his client Sipho Mbule has been offered to Kaizer Chiefs.

Makaab, who’s the director of ProSport International and has been in the business for almost three decades, was on the receiving end of criticism late Sunday when he went public about Mbule and Chiefs.

“Let me set the record straight. Sipho Mbule has been offered to Kaizer Chiefs. It is up to the club to make the decision, and we need to respect that decision,” wrote Makaab on social media platform X.

If anything, this didn’t sit well with the multitude of Amakhosi supporters.

Chiefs, in fact, missed out on Mbule three years ago when he opted to move to Mamelodi Sundowns from SuperSport United.

The 27-year-old has now been let go by Sundowns, who decided not to exercise their one-year option, owing to concerns that Mbule’s off-the-field issues, specifically his lifestyle, are a hindrance to what could be a great footballing career.

Now that Mbule is a free agent and searching for a new home, he has been linked to Chiefs. Makaab then took matters into his own hands by setting the record straight that Chiefs didn’t make the first move, and instead, it’s Mbule’s management team that approached the Soweto club.

This bold move, however, has seen Makaab accused of “influencing” and “exerting pressure on the management” of Chiefs to push through a deal.

Makaab responded, “Kaizer Chiefs is a professional football club, and their decisions will be based on what they think is best for the club. I am not trying to influence anything. Realistically, no matter what I say, I will never please everyone. My job is to do the best for my clients while respecting the football clubs I deal with.”

He added, “No football club anywhere in the world that is professionally run will be influenced by the wishes of their supporters. I say this with the utmost respect to all supporters, who are so important to the clubs they support. The game of football has changed over the years, and recruitment today is mainly based on statistical analysis and the real value that a player can add to the team. Emotions do not play a part in this process in modern football. So to suggest that I make statements to influence the outcome of a deal shows little or no respect for the football club you support.”

It remains to be seen whether or not Chiefs would welcome Mbule to Naturena.