Young Andile makes music with his feet

Andile Fikizolo was born to entertain. This is how the 22-year-old Golden Arrows midfielder describes himself, which is why he now dabbles in music as well. Fikizolo recently released a single titled Izinsimbi with his older brother Khulekani, also known as Stix Manyanyisa.

“It has always been football and music in my life. And because football takes more of my time, I had to let up on music for a while. But there was a time when I had left Arrows and didn’t have a team and I decided to do a few songs while I was sitting at home.

“Now that I am settled in my football career, I think I can afford to dedicate a few hours of my day to recording. The aim is to establish a recording label which will help youths in my township of Inanda to show their talents. Not all of us will succeed in football, as some are more talented in other forms of entertainment.”

Fikizolo is better known for what he does on the field with a ball at his feet. His touches get the fans excited and most will remember him when he was still at Thanda Royal Zulu and they were playing against Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup – he scored a brace and gave the Buccaneers’ defenders a hard time.

On that Saturday afternoon, Fikizolo scored his first goal in the opening minute and his displays on the day left many fans impressed. Asked about the day which probably launched his career as a footballer, he laughed.

“I must thank the coach at the time, Thami Ngubane for playing me that day because there were so many against it, but he believed in me and I think I repaid him well,” he said.

His Man-of-the-Match performance attracted interest from various Absa Premiership teams, and he chose SuperSport United where he signed a four-year deal which ends in June next year. But he has hardly featured for Matsatsantsa and was loaned to Golden Arrows, where he has become a regular and fan favourite.

Fikizolo is one of few players, if there are any, who call their bosses “mom”. He told Phakaaathi that Abafana Bes’thende chairwoman Mato Madlala is his adopted mother and he grew up under her wing.

“I moved into her house when I was a young boy. I was doing Grade 5 when she welcomed me into her home and she is my guardian. The love she has shown me over the years is unrivalled,” said Fikizolo.

It is for this reason that when Arrows were relegated in 2014, he asked SuperSport to loan him to the Durban side as he wanted to help them come up again.

“I felt an obligation to help. I and Mabhuti (Khenyeza) went there because we felt we owed the team and we couldn’t let them stay long in the NFD. We wanted to help them back.”

After a successful rescue mission he went back to Matsatsantsa but was later loaned back to Abafana Bes’thende again. He didn’t mind because it meant he would be closer to home again.

Like every young player, Fikizolo admitted he would love to don the colours of one of the Soweto giants one day, and said he knows his time will come.

“I am still contracted to SuperSport and whatever happens has to be approved by them. But I grew up watching mostly those teams and always wished to play for one of them,” he said.