Mtshali stays positive despite limited chances
Reserve keeper says he’s learning from Tignyemb
Bloemfontein Celtic second choice goalkeeper Ayanda Mtshali understands the difficulty of dethroning club captain Patrick Tignyemb.
Since joining Celtic in 2015 from provincial foes Free State Stars, Mtshali has only made six appearances in all competitions as Tignyemb has been given a nod since he came to SA from Cotonsport in Cameroon in 2008.
“I know that it is not easy to play because he is the captain and he’s been here for a long time. I do not see him as a competition because I learn from him. Sitting on the bench pushes me to work even harder,” Mtshali said yesterday.
Despite finding playing opportunities hard to come by at Celtic, Mtshali maintains that he enjoys a good working relationship with head coach Veselin Jelusic.
“He has not told me why I am not playing and I do not have a problem with that because I have a healthy relationship with him,’’ said the 29-year-old keeper.
“I will remain professional by giving my best each and every day when we train but at the moment I am injured I will be okay in the second week of January.
“What also makes me happy is that the team is doing well at the moment.’’
The showstopper from Newcastle, KZN, is a youth product of Harold “Jazzy Queen” Legodi’s Africa Sports Youth Development Academy. Mtshali used to play with the likes of Oupa Manyisa and Mpho Makola academy.
“I am motivated by their success. I speak with them almost everyday and they tell me to push harder,” Mtshali said. at the Johannesburg-based