Chippa goalie Mazibuko waits for his time to shine
It took Chippa United goalkeeper Mlungisi Mazibuko six years to break back into topflight football after parting ways with Maritzburg United.
It has been an emotional rollercoaster ride filled with disappointments for the 27year-old Pietermaritzburg goalkeeper since leaving the Team of Choice in 2013, where his football career started.
Mazibuko joined the development team of Maritzburg in 2011 and two years later, at the age of 19, was promoted to the first team.
But he has been back and forth between ABC Motsepe League and the Glad Africa Championship, as Maritzburg did not renew his contract in 2013.
The circumstances were so challenging that Mazibuko even had thoughts of leaving the sport he loves dearly, but he finally got his big break last year when he joined the Chilli Boys as the third goalkeeper.
In 2014, after leaving Maritzburg, the goalkeeper joined Mthatha Bucks, which were in the ABC Motsepe League at the time.
“I had never played for the lower divisions, so it wasn’t easy for me to play in the ABC Motsepe but I had to adjust,” Mazibuko said.
“I used Mthatha Bucks as a tool to bounce back into the game.
“I enjoyed regular game time which I did not get at Maritzburg.”
During his stay at Bucks the goalkeeper was instrumental in helping Amathol’amnyama gain promotion to the NFD in 2015.
However, he was sidelined and was not awarded an NFD contract by the Mthatha club the following season.
“The things that happen in football are very heartbreaking. After Mthatha Bucks, I went back home and stayed for months without a team.
“At the time, I was so heartbroken and disappointed with what happened at Bucks to a point where I even had thoughts of quitting football and seeking employment because I had given up on the sport.
“What happened at Bucks really traumatised me.”
Mazibuko says it was Real Kings that saved his career, though it took him two months to make up his mind about whether to join the team.
“While at home I got a call from Real Kings, who were playing in the ABC Motsepe at the time. I joined the team in 2016 and that season we gained promotion to NFD.”
Now back at PSL, Mazibuko says he is patiently waiting for his time to shine with Chippa United.
He said fellow teammate Veli Mothwa’s journey with him at Chippa had given him hope.
Mothwa spent five years with the Chilli Boys before getting regular game time.
He watched many goalkeepers who came after him play while he sat on the sidelines.
It was only this season under Norman Mapeza that the 29-year-old was given the No 1 jersey.
“I think when I was with Maritzburg I was still young and not ready to play in this stage, but now I am ready.
“When you are a goalkeeper you have to be patient. I just need to be patient, and show off my skills during the friendly games.
“So when the opportunity comes for me to play, I will grab it with both hands like Mothwa has done.”