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SPOTLIGHT
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH
SANDILE MTHETHWA BY HAPPY MASANGO
The issue of ‘development’ has been one of the most discussed topics in South African football in recent years with many identifying it as the sole reason our national team has become notorious for underperforming. While it’s no secret the heydays of football in the country are long-gone, the question remains: how do we return the nation back to regularly competing on an international stage? Many believe the answer to the above question lies in successfully producing young talent while most importantly integrating them into senior football at a young age.
SOCCERZELA.CO.ZA
We caught up with Orlando Pirates defender Sandile Mthethwa who’s currently out on loan at Chippa United regarding his journey through the South African footballing system. Mthethwa has come through the junior national team ranks featuring for the U20’s
I STARTED PLAYING AT THE AGE OF 8 BUT IT WAS ONLY AROUND 10 WHEN I REALISED FOOTBALL IS MY PASSION.
and U23’s while also donning the senior team jersey at the 2019 COSAFA Cup. Q: When did your journey towards professional football start? A: I started playing at the age of 8 but it was only around 10 when I realised football is my passion and decided I wanted to make it as a professional footballer one day. I began playing for my home town team Shooting Stars FC. I was then invited to join Thanda Royal Zulu but their academy didn’t go further at the time unfortunately, so I moved to an SAB League team called Flamengo. I then went for trials to the Kwa-Zulu Natal
ISSUE 7 JULY 2020
