WeeklySA_AdminPLOUGHING BACK:Former Royal AM star Moffat “Viera” Mdluli earns status for Futsal
By Priscilla Malinga
Mdluli Skhumbuzo “Viera” Mdluli has earned a status to establish a Futsal team after his legal battles and departure from Royal AM in 2022. He plans to use the status to develop young football players in South Africa and has established the Citizens Football Club in his hometown Soweto.
Born and bred in Diepkloof his story started at the tender age of 8 years when he played for Computer Stars football club owned by the Kaizer Chiefs team legend Vusi ‘Computer’ Lamola.
Lamola used took care of training session and, played a huge role in Mdluli’s development. Mdluli’s dream was to play professionally. He then played for Diepkloof Coventry football club and, proceeded to Orlando Kwaitos football club. “Soccer helped to get me off the streets as my peers started engaging in smoking drugs and criminal activities,” says Mdluli.
His journey was never easy as he did not get a chance to play for any top academy teams like Chiefs and Pirates that he was dreaming to play for even after so many trials. “It was discouraging at some point as I started feeling like I was not going to make it,” says Mdluli.
At 21 he got uncomfortable playing in Soweto and felt he desperately needed God’s divine intervention to change his situation. Finally he joined Alexandra United football club that was based in the north of Johannesburg where he played in the 2nd division. This was where he started earning a salary and he saw progress as he played a lot of friendly games with professional teams.
Playing against professional teams made him even determined. During his second season with Alex he received a call up for the South Africa under 23 national team because some professional teams didn’t want to release their under 23 players. This led to him joining the team in camp and trained with them. “I didn’t get a chance to play because the teams decided to release the players and Coach Shakes Mashaba was impressed with my performance,” says Mdluli. He was only a cover because Mashaba had his squad already.
He got spotted by a jogger during training and got impressed with his performance and asked for his number. After training on the way to the bus he told him he has a plan for him.
After 3 years with Alex United the same guy organised him trials with Supersport United football club where he trained for a week. He did exceptionally well and got invited for pre-season camp. Coach Kevin Hunt offered him a contract for his outstanding performance. He played 80% of matches that season and was placed in the starting line for the Nedbank cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns in 2011/2012 season. “I really appreciate my family for all the support because I wouldn’t have done it without them,” says Mdluli.
After spending 2 years with Supersport enjoying game time and exploring African countries, playing Confederation of African Football long travelling hours and weather were his biggest challenge. “I loved each moment I still can’t believe that Football took me from Soweto to Egypt,” says Mdluli.
At the end of the season Coach Gavin Hunt left the team and that was the beginning of his problems. The new coach Calvin Johnson made things hard as he had to fight for his position but ended up being loaned to Polokwane City football Club.
Polokwane City Football Club got promoted to the professional soccer league and this forced his relocation Limpopo. He used the opportunity to shine. This led teams like Kaiser Chiefs coming to knock on his door but it wasn’t meant to be. During a match against Supersport United he bumped into Coach Gavin who couldn’t even look him in the eye when he gave him a handshake. He didn’t play that day because his ‘loan move did not allow him to. That was the day he lost respect for Coach Gavin as he realised, it wasn’t about his performance as on that level coaches would address performance.
Mdluli says it was not the Coach’s decision to decide where his career should go so he had to soldier on move on with his journey. After a season loan with Polokwane City Football Club, he received an offer for Free State Stars where he played a season, and was then out of a contract which inspired the move to 5 aside. This came with a lot of travelling to more countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Russia to name a few. The biggest highlight of playing in 5 aside was winning the F5 World Cup playing for Orlando Pirates’ 5 aside. They became the first team in South Africa to ever win.
After Covid 19 he got an offer to play for Royal AM while they were still in Motsepe First division. He played until promotion to PSL. After 3 years of winning the league there was controversy pertaining the owner who bought Bloemfontein Celtics. It led to commotion, a lot of change and unprofessionalism in the team and he was unfairly dismissed. It was heart breaking as this was not the retirement he had planned, he said.
With his Futsal status he plans to teach young players to play in a smaller space enforcing regular movement and creativity and to teach them about the challenges they may face. “I started Futsal team in 2019 but because of the unavailability of Futsal league in Gauteng we were only playing friendly matches,” says Mdluli. This will be fully communicated once it’s launched after the press statement. He will use it to give back to his community and to the upcoming stars. All you need is a yes from that one person, he says. Mdluli is also working on other projects in line with football in South Africa.
