Go with the flow – Mlambo
Wits star grateful ‘Dance’ took a chance with him
THE THOUGHT of playing in his first cup final, against a Mamelodi Sundowns side he once called home, doesn’t bring any emotion to Xola Mlambo. It’s only when he talks about the man who helped him get to this stage, coach Dan Malesela, that the Bidvest Wits midfielder gets emotional.
Mlambo first worked with Malesela at Sundowns’ reserves. The 25-year-old didn’t take football too seriously because he was still finishing his diploma in sport science at North West University in Mahikeng.
He spent six more months in Chloorkop after graduating before reuniting with Malesela at Cape Town All Stars in the first division.
Their time there was cut short when Malesela was fired in November 2015. A few months later, Mlambo was also given the boot while he was nursing a knee injury.
He returned to his Joburg home. Malesela took a gamble on him by bringing him to Chippa United last season. Mlambo repaid the man nicknamed “Dance” by forming one of the best central midfield pairings in the country with Thamsanqa Sangweni.
The bond Mlambo had with the coach, who had managed him at three clubs, was strong. That’s why it was difficult for him to part ways and join Wits at the start of this season.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Mlambo said. “There was a lot of emotion involved. We had to accept that in football these things happen. One has to move on, as happened when he left Cape Town All Stars.
“I didn’t think we would reunite again but we did at Chippa United. Then Wits made an offer.
“I didn’t think we would part ways after such a short space of time working together again.
“Saying goodbye was emotional. He was strong enough to motivate me. He said I shouldn’t forget the things I learned and I should go with an open mind ready to learn new things.
“If it wasn’t for the trust and belief he showed in me, I doubt I would be here.”
Mlambo made a seamless transition to the Milpark-based club.
He and Thabang Monare have gelled to form a solid central midfield pairing, despite the short period they have spent together.
They easily replaced Phumlani Ntshangase and Ben Motshwari who ruled the Clever Boys’ midfield last season.
Gavin Hunt will rely on Mlambo and Monare to stand firm against Tiyani Mabunda and Hlompho Kekana when Wits take on Sundowns in the MTN8 final at Mbombela Stadium at 5pm today.
The only familiar face Mlambo will see when he steps onto the field is likely to be on the bench in Motjeka Madisha. The two played together in the reserve side along with Khayelihle Shozi, whom Sundowns loaned to first division side Black Leopards.
Mlambo is not bitter that things didn’t work out at Chloorkop.
“I didn’t raise much expectation to break into the first team because I was new to the Sundowns set-up, although I hoped I would eventually get there,” Mlambo said.
“It wasn’t meant to be. I had to take another route. Here I am, finding myself back in Gauteng on a different platform, preparing to play against them in a cup final.
“There isn’t much emotion I have towards playing against them.
“I just have to be professional about it.”