DRIBBLING WIZARD: Born-again Mark Mayambela mentors Cape Town City under 19’s

By Siyabonga Kamnqa

SOCCER players are notorious for playing the field, boozing and blowing their hard-earned cash on material things. And, as result, over the years Mzansi has seen a long list of former soccer stars either retiring or dying as paupers despite having made it big in both the local and international leagues.

But one player who is grateful for having been given a second opportunity in life is former Orlando Pirates, Bloemfontein Celtics, Chippa United, Ajax Cape Town, Cape Town City FC and Supersport United dribbling wizard Mark Mayambela. Dubbed “Professor” due to his mesmerising skills, Mayambela, who also turned out for Djurgardens

IF in Sweden, had soccer fans eating from the palm of his hands due to his amazing skills. It therefore came as a shock when the 35-year-old Khayelitsha, Cape Town-born player announced his resignation from the beautiful game last year. In a wide-ranging interview with Weekly SA Mirror this week, Mayambela spoke about living his coaching dream, his faith and turning his life around.

Once counted among Mzanis’s bad boys, Mayambela admits he too could have easily been another “soccer history dustbin” case had God not saved him. Like many players, he said he was once caught up in the glitzy footballers’ lives. “In this game (of football) you attract all sorts of friends once you become a famous footballer. You get invited to parties and you end up falling into this whole ‘celebritiy’ lifestyle.

I was no exception. But thanks God I came into my senses before it was too late.,” he said. The lanky ex-footballer, who holds a UEFA (B) coaching license, says he has got his mother, Lungiswa, to be thankful to for the man he has now become. A staunch Zion Christian Church member, Lungiswa encouraged both her famous soccer star sons, Mark and his younger brother Mihlali to put God in everyting they do. And, Mayambela says when the chips were down in his soccer career he was reminded of his mother’s words.

“That’s when I decided to give my life to God and let Him take control of my life. Football is not a lifetime career as everything can change within the blink of an eye. Not all foootballers are fortunate to have something to fall back on when their playing days are over. But God opened doors for me and I managed to realise my dream of coaching.

As the U-19 coach at Cape Town City FC,  it feels good to work with all these talented youngsters. We’ve got such an abundance of soccer talent that still needs to be unearthed. I am taken aback everyday by the talent that we’ve got out there,” he says.

These days Mayambela says he enjoys nothing more than spending quality time with his 10-year-old son Lonwabo and going to his ZCC church. He is also proud of his younger brother Mihlali whom he describes as being “easy to advise on life matters”. The Bafana Bafana star, Mihlali, currently plays for Cypriot club, Aris Limassol. “He doesn’t drink or smoke. And what more encouragement or advice can you offer such a highly disciplined person? He breathes football. I’m proud of the man he has become.

With his strong will to survive he is still gonna achieve great things,” says Mayambela proudly. Nothing fulfuls his heart more than having realised his dream of bulding his mother a decent house in the Litha Park section of Khayelitsha township. “We grew up in a shack and often went to bed hungry.

But when I signed my first professional contract with Bloemfontein Celtics, I told myself that I will put a smile in my mother’s face for all the sacrifices she made for myself and my siblings,” he says.

TEPID TUKS CHANGE FORTUNES

DIFFERENT FORMATION: University of Pretoria FC to teach Platinum City Rovers new books

By Masoja Cele

Struggling University of Pretoria FC will host the not so impressive Platinum City Rovers in the Motsepe Foundation Championship date at Tuks Stadium, Pretoria. The match will be played on Sunday, kick-off 15:30.

The former DStv Premiership participants Tukkies are struggling to replicate the performance that inspired fear among fellow candidates in football space. AmaTuks were relegated to the second tier back in 2015/16 season.

Ever since they have been in the race to return to the top league but missed at the dead end. In the 2020/21 season they played their best football and qualified for the national play-offs only to falter at the end at Moroka Swallows. 

Last, season they had rather a disappointing campaign finishing eight in the log standing. The Hartfield based side are currently blowing hot and cold. They are finding it difficult to win matches at home or away.

Last week they played a lacklustre 0-0 draw against Marumo Gallants away. The University team will be hoping to pull a morale boosting victory against Rovers. AmaTuks still boast a quality side that can stand theoir own against any opposition in Championship tier.

The long serving AmaTuks mentor Tlisane Motaung will definitely approach the match with a different formation for better results. Motaung is the longest serving coach with the same team in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, bar JDR Stars gaffer Nditsheni Masisi who is the owner/coach at his team. Motaung has been at the helm of Tukkies for three years today.

The likeable manager will pin his hopes on the experience of trio Samuel Jules, Thabang Sibanyoni and Thokozani Sekotlong to bang in the alluding goals. In defence Motaung will assign the likes of Lulama Maqoko, Shaheed Kazeem and Tshepang Makara to frustrate the opposition strike force.

However, versus City Rovers, Tukkies will be up against the team that is oozing with confidence after their hard earned 1-0 victory at Black Leopards. Although, they are lying 14th on the log they showed character and determination against Lidoda Duhva.

Rovers have recently signed former Sekhukhune United forward Siyabulela Shai to bolster their misfiring strike force. Shai brings load of experience. He has played for teams like Garankuwa United, Chippa United, Sekhukhune United, Black Leopards, and EC Bees and Mamelodi Sundowns.  City Rovers also boast the expertise of former Baroka FC lanky defender Olaleng Shaku.

The North West side coach Nkosana Mabena would want to see a repeat of the same performance they displayed against Leopards.

Coach Mabena would have to inject severe fighting spirit to the likes of Edwin Ramasha, Charles Molopo, Lawrence Vilakazi and Mxolisi Kunene to make the team fire on all cylinders.

The match however will be decided in the middle of the park Tuks industrious midfielder Thabang Sibanyoni alongside Jules and Promise Mkhuma will look to break up City Rovers attacks and win the ball for their attacks.

In another crunch fixture Upington City will entertain KZN boys Milford FC on Sunday at Windhoek Draught Park Stadium, Kimberley. Kick-off is 15:30.