GOALKEEPER MWENYA CHIBWE HAS STRUCK GOLD FOR POLOKWANE CITY

years to make his mark in the South African top-flight having been a product of the Nedbank Ke Yona Team challenge in its inaugural year. That led to a move to Platinum Stars, but he was immediately loaned out to second-tier GaRankuwa United and failed to make the breakthrough with Dikwena. His four seasons on the books of Stars yielded only 40 minutes of Absa Premiership football, while in his final season he was deemed third-choice and did not even make an appearance on the bench. He moved to Jomo Cosmos for the 2018/19 season and it was under experienced coach Jomo Sono that he flourished, starting 23 games in all competitions and regaining his lost confidence. City brought him into the top-flight at the start of this campaign, and while he competes with Zimbabwe international George Chigova in Limpopo, he has already muscled his way into the first team.

He has yet to concede a goal in the Absa Premiership and MTN8 this season, going an impressive 270 minutes so far without being beaten.

Chibwe points back to his season with GaRankuwa as the crucial influence on in his career, as it made him believe he could be a professional footballer.

“I grew as a goalkeeper that season and began to understand a lot more about professionalism,” he tells TAB SPORTS NETWORK EXPRESS. “I really enjoyed my season there as I was playing regularly and learning all the time.

“That is what you want as a young player, to be able to get the opportunity to grow and get better with each match and each training session. I felt like I did that there.

“Bra J [Sono] actually wanted me when I was at GaRankuwa, but I was playing regularly then and I was happy at the club. I was honest with him at the time about that.”

To take a bet, go to www.bettingworld.co.za or www.tabonline.co.za or www.soccer6.co.za