Luyolo Nomandela
The latest addition to Cape Town City’s potent attack
Luyolo Nomandela has no regrets about his career path that has had plenty of pitfalls along the way, including a failed move to Mamelodi Sundowns and successive relegations, as he takes on a fresh challenge at high-flying Cape Town City. Nomandela has shed plenty of blood and sweat, and perhaps even some tears, to get his career back on track and has been battered back into shape under the watch of City’s head of sports science and performance, Dutch national Guido Seerden. He says he is now ready to put past disappointments behind him and regain the form that saw him called into the Bafana Bafana setup three years ago. “The festive season holidays was not a break for me at all, it was a chance for me to double-up my work and make sure I come back much
stronger for the second half of the season,” Nomandela tells KICK OFF. “I think hard work is something that I have always thrived on. Playing, training, whatever… it keeps me going. “It is such a good feeling for me to be back playing after such a long time on the sidelines. But more than that, to be part of a team again, going to training everyday, building up to a match … just touching the ball again.” Nomandela negotiated his exit from Mamelodi Sundowns in October after experiencing disappointment at Chloorkop during his two-season stay there that included loan spells at relegated sides Moroka Swallows and Jomo Cosmos. He had burst onto the scene at Free State Stars in the 2012/13 season and quickly became one of the hottest properties in the PSL after two successful campaigns. Sundowns won the race for his signature, but the quality of the competition there meant he made just two substitute appearances for the club, both in December 2014. But the 27-year-old says he lives without regret, and given the chance to do it all again, would take a shot at the move to Sundowns. “They wanted me and it was a big opportunity for me, so I don’t regret it at all. I had to give it a shot. I never had any second thoughts going there and I still feel it was the right move for me at the time. “It didn’t work out, but okay, that happens sometimes in football. It is not something that I like to talk or think about though because I am a very positive person and I am looking to the future now and not the past. But what I will say is I don’t regret it at all.” Nomandela was left in limbo when he negotiated the mutualm termination of his contract in October,O believing that at his age he neededn to be playing most weeks in theth PSL. He first tried out at City’s crosstownto rivals Ajax, where he impressed, butb the club were concerned about theth excess weight he was carrying dued to his lack of structured training anda opted not to sign him. But with Seerden putting him throughth the ringer at City, he now lookslo in much better condition. “Everything starts with being in good shape – you can have all the skill in the world, but you cannot play if you are not fit. If you feel out of shape you are not confident on the ball and you cannot give your best. I have always known that, it all starts with fitness.” He says he always felt confident something would come his way after leaving Sundowns. “I always have a positive mindset, I knew I would be okay and that I would get my chance,” the Ngqeleniborn star says. “It is about grabbing that chance when it comes along, recognising the moment and running with it. “I already feel like part of the family at City. I know a lot of players say that, but I really mean it. From the
“I ALREADY FEEL LIKE PART OF THE FAMILY AT CITY.”
players to the staff in the offices, everybody has been so welcoming, you can see they really want to help me. “And they want me here, that is important. They have made it so easy for me, I feel like a new player every time I go to training. And obviously there is a good vibe around the club, they have done very well so far this season and won a cup [the Telkom Knockout]. It is a great environment to be in. Everybody is so humble.” City coach Eric Tinkler had said one of the reasons why they brought Nomandela in was to provide some depth in a number of positions for his small squad. “I can play anywhere [across the attacking line], but my preferred position is as a winger, that’s where I have played more than anywhere else,” Nomandela says. “I can play on either side – I am naturally right-footed, but I can play with my left because that is something I have practised hard all through my career. “The style of football at City is also something suited to me and it’s easy for me to understand what the coach wants from me.” So, can he add to his two internationals caps, which included a goal against Burkina Faso in August 2013? “Playing for my country was amazing, isn’t that the ambition for every player? I believe I can get back there. I still have that burning ambition. It is possible.”