Mntambo’s patience has paid off in spades

“Linda” roughly translates as “be patient” and new Chippa United player Linda Mntambo had to wait for quite a while before his chance to play professional football came about.

After finishing matric in 2006, Mntambo had to find a job immediately because his family’s financial situation didn’t allow for him to go into tertiary education – he had to also help ease the burden on his parents.

He got a job as a waiter at Emperors Palace in 2007 and that is where his love for football was reignited when he got to serve famous stars of the time during the Premier Soccer League Awards ceremony.

“Sundowns had won the league and I was a waiter during the PSL awards and serving the likes of Surprise Moriri and Esrom Nyandoro made me want to play professionally too. I told my brother afterwards that one day I also want to come to the venue as a guest or to receive an award,” he said.

He later found a job as a labourer in the Southgate area. “It was closer to home and I was paid weekly.

“My heart was never in it though but I had to work because of the financial situation at home.

“I stayed in that job for five years. I eventually decided to call it quits to go and follow my dream,” explains the former Jomo Cosmos midfielder.

He then joined Vardos FC who bought a status of an NFD team and changed their name to Roses FC. But it was not a good start to his career as Roses were relegated. But it was only just the beginning as a surprise call from Jomo Sono opened new avenues for him.

“He called me. We had just lost to Cosmos the previous day and I first thought someone was just pranking me. He introduced himself as “Bra J” and told me that whenever I came to Joburg I must come and see him because he wanted to sign me. And that was it.

“That is how I got the chance to join Cosmos.”

Mntambo has so much respect for Sono that when he speaks about him he refers to him as “Mr Sono” which is hardly a case in football circles as even Sono refers to himself as “Bra J”.

Mntambo said he left Cosmos on good terms and had Sono’s blessing. He made a dream start at his new team as he scored a brace that sank AmaZulu on Sunday and gave the Chilli Boys a good start to the New Year.

“Scoring on debut was a dream. A first game anywhere is always tough because you have pressure to make everyone in the team believe you are good so they can trust you.

“I am very happy with my debut but it also puts me under pressure because people will now want more of the same from me.

“That is good pressure though and it drives me to work even harder,” said the 28-year-old.

He said he felt emotional when he had to leave Ezenkosi as he had been with the club for a while and was the captain and main man there.