Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has explained the departures of numerous players during the January transfer window.

The Brazilians has already bolstered their squad by capturing the services of Jeremy Brockie, Aubrey Ngoma, Gaston Sirino and Siyabonga Zulu.

Mosimane insists that he sent Mogakolodi Ngele and Siyanda Zwane out on loan to hand them the opportunity to get more game-time under their belt.

‘You have to be honest, not to keep and hoard players. If the guy has to go get a chance to play somewhere, you have to ask yourself, “would you really play him tonight?”‘ Mosimane told the media.

‘If you’re not going to play him tonight, and he’s not on the bench or doesn’t even make the 20-man squad, I think it’s only fair for us to also look after the welfare of the players and release them. They want to go and play also.

‘SuperSport wanted Ngele. He was also part of the Brockie deal, but we didn’t want to say it. So, we agreed that we will do it.

‘Siyanda Zwane went to Ajax to get game-time, because Anele [Ngcongca] is back. Thapelo [Morena] is there and Motjeka [Madisha] can also play right-back, so we can’t be keeping him.’

The 53-year-old has not ruled out the possibility of more players leaving the club during the current transfer window, insisting he is happy with a 24 or 25 man squad.

‘So, as I told you before, we would be releasing four or five, and we have just done that. We’ll see [if we release more]. I don’t like to keep big numbers,’ he added.

‘Sundowns has always been known for keeping a lot of players, but I like to have 24 or 25 – that’s good enough for us. When it goes to 30, players become disgruntled and you have an unhappy camp.

‘So, it’s important to release. Unfortunately not many teams want to buy our players, that’s the problem we have. But we buy them, we spent money on them.’