16/10/2026
People tend to forget, luckily some of us don't. And even when we do, the internet doesn't. 😌
To everyone genuinely arguing that Seluleko Mahlambi isn't worth R10m because he isn't a national team player, please explain the formula you're using to determine a player's value.
Chiefs reportedly spent around R9.24m each on Rushwin Dortley and Makabi Lilepo. Dortley came from Cape Town Spurs, who were in the second division, while Lilepo arrived from Valenciennes in France's second tier. Neither signing required a Bafana Bafana pedigree to justify the investment.
Now, I'm not saying Mahlambi is automatically worth R10m, but why is that valuation so outrageous?
He's coming off a strong season in which he recorded 6 goals and 5 assists in 37 league appearances, according to FBref. He also earned the Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player of the Tournament award in 2026. His stocks were always going to rise after that kind of campaign.
Yes, he hasn't started this season with goals or assists, but that doesn't mean he's been terrible. In six league appearances, he's created 5 chances, including 3 big chances, registered 0.47 xA and won 15 fouls. The end product hasn't arrived yet, but there are still positive signs in his underlying numbers.
And let's stop pretending this only happens in South Africa. Across European football, a player has a breakout season, clubs become interested, and suddenly his valuation rises. That's football. Age, potential, contract situations, demand and a selling club's assessment all influence the price.
You don't have to agree that Mahlambi is worth R10m, but dismissing his valuation simply because he isn't a national team player is a lazy argument. There's more to valuing a footballer than international caps.
