Downs’ Kumalo keeps knocking on the door
Tough midfielder eyes regular role after MDC heroics, Bafana call-up
Mamelodi Sundowns’ forgotten midfielder Sibusiso Kumalo hasn’t given up on making an impact at the Brazilians, despite spending the better part of last season with the club’s MultiChoice Diski Challenge side.
Kumalo joined Sundowns in 2013 from Moroka Swallows. However, he has only made four appearances for the African champions. He had loan spells with Jomo Cosmos and Maritzburg United between 2014 and last year.
“I am eager to play for the first team and I am hopeful my time will come. It shows that the team believes in me because they have been loaning me out and calling me back. I want to contribute to the club’s success. My dream is to participate in the [CAF] Champions League,” Kumalo said. “I have been always working hard and I keep on learning. Last season I enjoyed helping the MDC team to win the [reserve league] title. We also went to the Netherlands and won the MultiChoice International Challenge. That experience was valuable and it has improved me as a player. When my chance comes,
I will not disappoint because I have been waiting for it for a long time.”
The 26-year-old, who has penned a new two-year deal, recently made his Bafana debut against Botswana in the first leg of the African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier and he hopes for more national team caps, but understands that only solid displays at club level can keep that door open.
“It was a great experience to represent my country for the first time. I am looking forward to more future call-ups. It is not every player who gets that opportunity – it requires a lot of hard work – and I know I must work even harder at Sundowns to be considered for Bafana again.”