Towering Sithole steadies Bafana ship
His commanding performance at Afcon saw the Ulundi Municipality produce posters congratulating one of their own
Burly Bafana Bafana midfielder Sphephelo Sithole is fast approaching royalty status in his hometown in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
His commanding performance at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Ivory Coast helped South Africa progress to the semifinals, and the Ulundi Local Municipality produced posters congratulating one of their own.
Sithole further entrenched himself with a solid showing as Bafana battled into the semifinals of the 24-team continental competition for the first time in 24 years.
That’s when he was born, in KwaQhudebe village. He cut his teeth on a grassless pitch in the Ulundi Township’s Unit D, where Double Classic coach Sbanisenkosi Dlamini polished the rough diamond who sparkled on the immaculately manicured lush green pitches of Ivory Coast. “He is reaping the rewards of patience, perseverance, resilience and being focused,” said Dlamini.
“You can instantly see a player who is super talented. Sphe was not. He would be on the bench. But because he is a persistent warrior, he kept on pushing for his place, never missed training, improved, and started playing for Classic.
“During school holidays, some of the boys didn’t show up for training. He was always there, keeping his head down, working on his game. The results showed with every performance. Watching him perform like that filled me with great pride.
“I’ve known him since he was in primary school. I grew up at Classic, playing for the under-17s and trained the U-13s. Sphe was one of them. I drove them to tournaments. He persevered and pushed his way forward.
“I spent four to five years with him in the team before he went to KZN Academy. They conducted trials at the Ulundi Regional Stadium. They loved him. I remember one of the coaches said ‘I have found a diamond in Ulundi’,” said Dlamini.
“We went to his parents’ house to sign papers. He was with them for a couple of years.”
Sithole, who has never played in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), is a shining example of Hugo Broos’ stewardship of Bafana.
He benefited from the Belgian’s vision of building a new team. Having only represented the U-17 national team, he got his Bafana bow against Morocco in an Afcon qualifier in Rabat in 2022, and despite the 1-2 defeat, he made an instant impression.
Dutiful displays against Mali, Namibia, Tunisia, Morocco and Nigeria saw Sithole emerge as one of the stars of what a match commentator called “bold, brave and brilliant” in exalting the team’s collective performance.
Evident was the manner he industriously anchored the midfield as a firmament figure, working in tandem with the energetic Teboho Mokoena in front of Bafana’s back four. The duo masterfully stymied opponents from surging through the middle, forcing them to forge forays on the flanks, where Khuliso Mudau on the right and Aubrey Modiba, on the left, stood their ground.
“You had to pass Sithole before you got to [Mothobi] Mvala and [Grant] Kekana. His forward passes show that he has that attacking ability. His attitude is correct, you can see the fighting spirit in his eyes. He hates losing and loves to be involved in build-ups. If he can get the freedom to move up the pitch we can see his goalscoring qualities,” noted Dlamini.
Sithole made his professional debut in Portugal. Second-division side Belenenses pounced after he starred for the academy side against Real Madrid and Barcelona in Durban in 2019. Sithole now plays for Tondela, another second tier outfit.
At 14 Sithole towered over his peers, recalls his Nsikayendlu High School Grade 8 English teacher Phumlani Gcwabaza, who doubled up as the school’s B team soccer side coach. His imposing physical presence earned him the “Yaya” sobriquet, after the colossus Yaya Touré, the Ivorian giant and ex Manchester
City and Barcelona heavyweight.
Sithole’s height cast doubt on his age and opponents refused to play against him. “People accused him of being older. In 2012, we had to leave him behind when we went to Kokstad for an U-14 McDonald provincial tournament representing KZN,” said Gcwabaza.
“But in 2013, we produced his passport as proof. He played. We won the tournament and he was player of the tournament. He was one of my most hard-working pupils in class and as a player on the field. I promoted him to the A team because he was more mature for his age. Older players found it difficult against his strength, his movement, his passing. His defensive qualities are exceptional.”
Gcwabaza said when he challenged the schoolboys to toughen up, Sithole proved his mettle with a biting tackle on the coach. “We called that session Wednesday War, highly physical, not for the weak. Sithole was the strongest.
“He tackled me so hard on my shin, I bled. I knew there and then that this one was not
His attitude is correct, you can see the fighting spirit in his eyes. He hates losing and loves to be involved in build-ups Sbanisenkosi Dlamini
Sithole’s former coach
to be messed with. Soon he was playing for the first team. Older players commended his strength. He is mature now.”.
Sithole’s maturity for Bafana could be seen in how he kept distances between midfield and defence tight. He doesn’t assert himself with bone-crunching authority but screens the field with silent serenity and assuring security. Unlike Touré, Sithole lacks goal-scoring to his game, an aspect Dlamini and Gcwabaza assert Sithole has in abundance.
“There are things he didn’t do at Afcon. He loves passing, collecting the ball, playing short passes, and shooting for goal. He’ sa midfielder who, when given a free role, can play one-twos. Tall as he is, he does a lovely step over the ball,” said Gcwabaza.
“But you could tell he had strict instructions to focus on covering the defence. Mokoena went forward a lot because Sphe covered space. He doesn’t play for individual glory. He plays for the badge, and fights for the team. That is what we taught him.”
Dlamini admires Sithole’s singlemindedness and dedication to his craft. “He gets what being a professional footballer means. He doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t drink. We have talent in this country but most of them drink their careers away… I always use him to inspire the young players who are here to follow his example.”