XOLA’S AMAZING PROGRESS CONTINUES
A year ago, he was on the sidelines, now he is facing Africa’s giants, writes NJABULO NGIDI
IT DIDN’T take too long for Xola Mlambo to win over the hard-to-please Gavin Hunt. In fact, the Bidvest Wits’ coach told the club’s chief executive Jose Ferreira, at halftime last season in a match against Chippa United, to sign Mlambo in the next transfer window. That was after the midfielder made Wits’ players chase his shadow, unable to even sniff the ball because of how he jealously guarded it. Hunt could be tempted to unleash that beast tonight in East London at Sisa Dukashe Stadium against the Chilli Boys in the Absa Premiership, giving them a taste of their own medicine. If that happens, Mlambo is confident that he will get a warm reception as he returns to his old home. “I know that the supporters there definitely love me,” Mlambo said. “They will welcome me with open arms. It would be a great feeling to face the club that gave me the opportunity to be where I am. It will be an exciting and interesting game. But we are going there as a team. It’s not about me or any individual.” Mlambo was club-less when Dan Malesela brought him to the Chilli Boys last year. The two had worked together at Cape Town All Stars in the first division, before Malesela was fired in November of 2015. Mlambo was released a couple of months after that while still nursing a knee injury. Chippa resurrected his career and the Clever Boys have taken it to the next level.
The 25-year-old played in his first cup final earlier this season and helped Wits become MTN8 champions. He is playing international football now in the CAF Champions League, and on Saturday he could come up against the mighty Al-Ahly in Cairo in the first leg of their first round clash with a place in the group stage up for grabs.
“Being released by Cape Town All Stars was a blessing in disguise. If I didn’t take it as a man, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I have to be grateful to the people who gave me the opportunity after I had a setback. They believed in me and gave me an opportunity to continue in my career because they saw potential in me. I think that I didn’t disappoint, which is why I am where I am now.”
The hectic schedule that Wits are on, having to travel to East London, then Egypt, return to go to Cape Town and then host Al-Ahly again in Milpark, all in two weeks – will force Hunt’s hands to rotate the team.
“Other teams when they have had to play Egyptian teams, they didn’t have midweek games,” Hunt said. “It’s tough for us. We will get there in the early hours of the morning on Saturday and play Saturday night. What can we do? I will have to try and rotate the squad a bit.”
In rotating the squad, central midfield is one department where Wits would never lose their strength regardless who plays. They have Mlambo, Granwald Scott, Phumlani Ntshangase, Ben Motshwari, Thabang Monare and Wangu Gome among others. That stiff competition has led to Mlambo seeing less game time this year, unlike in the first half of the season as he formed a strong unit with Monare.
“Looking at the competition for places in midfield, it’s not easy for anyone,” Mlambo said.
“We have a lot of quality players. It was a blessing to start against Bloemfontein Celtic. I am grateful for the opportunity. The fact that we are playing the league, Nedbank Cup and in the Champions League means that the coach will rotate players to give others a rest and others a chance. You just have to take your chance. As long as the team keeps going and we are getting the result, that’s the most important thing regardless of who is playing.”
The midfield is just one department that highlights Wits’ depth. That depth will be tested in the next two weeks as the club will be competing on three fronts. But the big one is Al-Ahly. If they can overcome the Egyptian giants, it would be a huge confidence booster and will see the club reach the group stage of the Champions League for the first time. But if they lose, it will add to their workload as they will be demoted to the CAF Confederation Cup to feature in the play-offs.
“We have players who have been in the game for some time, players who have faced Al-Ahly before, looking at the likes of Daine Klate, Moeneeb Josephs and Sifiso Myeni,” Mlambo said. “They have been there. They make everyone’s job easier. They have shared their experiences with all of u. It will be a good experience to go to Al-Ahly and I am sure whoever will be left behind will be disappointed.”