Magubane lets his feet do the talking

Siphelele Magubane is a bit on the shy side and is the kind of player who likes letting his football do the talking for him. And in his first season in the topflight, the Golden Arrows midfielder really did let his feet do the talking as his goal against Polokwane City was voted Goal of the Season by supporters.

The goal has catapulted him into the public eye but he feels it can only serve as an encouragement for him to keep working hard.

“When I received the ball, I knew exactly what to do because I always practise it at training. But I never expected it to be such a big goal that would go on and win an award. It has made me believe that I am capable of doing big things and it motivates me,” he said.

That is now. Rewind to earlier days, when playing professional football was just a dream, Magubane describes them as “tough”. He felt his dreams were within reach when he passed trials and joined the SuperSport United Academy as a teenager. He saw football as the only means for him to move his family out of poverty.

“I was born in Macambini in the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. When I joined the SuperSport United Academy in 2009 I felt it was a big move for me because it brought me closer to living my dream. After finishing matric I was set to go out on loan so I could get some first-team experience but I got injured,” he said. This was a serious set-back for the teenager. Fortunately, he was sent to Stellenbosch University for top-class medical treatment.

“That is where I played in their SAB League team, when I had recovered. One day Errol Dicks, who owned FC Cape Town, came to watch us and liked me. He asked about me and was referred to SuperSport. He spoke to them and they loaned me to his team.

“I played for one season and went back to SuperSport. Dicks wanted me on a permanent deal and SuperSport agreed to let me join his club. I signed for two years,” said the 25-year-old.

Magubane became a big player for FC Cape Town and was hopeful that a chance to step up to the big league was imminent but he never expected that agreeing to join his ‘homeboys’ for a match in a local tournament during the off season would bring that chance.

“I played in a local tournament and that’s where Arrows assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi spotted me,” he said. “It’s been a tough journey that needed me to be patient and remain focused on what I wanted to achieve.”

At Arrows he played in the Multichoice Diski Challenge (MDC) team for a year before he was promoted to the senior team and he is adamant the time he spent at MDC built him to be the player he is now.

“When you get to a new environment you have to adapt. Playing in the MDC was a step back but it was also a chance for me to grow in a less pressured environment.”

He was given his run in the senior team last season and never looked back. He has grown so much in stature that his name has popped up a couple of times when Kaizer Chiefs supporters suggested players they would like their team to sign.

“I have seen those comments but have not taken them too seriously. If it was meant that I play for Chiefs, it will happen. Right now my focus is on Arrows where I get my bread and butter.

“It is the same with Bafana Bafana. If it happens, I will be very happy. But I don’t want to look too far because I might lose focus on what matters most,” he said.