TS Sporting’s Maranti keeps PSL dream alive
GladAfrica Championship side TS Sporting goalkeeper Mlungisi Maranti, of Motherwell in Port Elizabeth, still harbours ambitions of playing in the Absa Premiership.
The 30-year-old has had a bumpy ride in football so far, but he has always stayed optimistic and kept his dream of joining the elite alive through his performances.
“I still have hopes of playing in the PSL,” Maranti said.
“TS Sporting is a team with a lot of ambition and their vision is very clear ... they want to get into the PSL.
“I also have the same vision and ambition so I want to be there when the club reaches that goal.
“It’s been a rollercoaster but life has its up and downs, and one needs to solider on and stay focused.”
The talented shot-stopper was instrumental in helping Mthatha Bucks gain promotion to the National First Division, now known as the GladAfrica Championships, in 2015.
His expertise was vital in TS Sporting gaining semi-professional league status in 2018.
This season, Maranti once again proved his worth as Sporting reached the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup after beating Real Kings 4-3 on penalties.
However, their journey ended when they lost 3-2 on penalties to Bloemfontein Celtic.
“Reaching the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals was a wonderful experience.” Maranti grew up playing for Shining Stars under the Motherwell Football Association.
From there he joined Juventus. He went on to play for Real Aces in the Castle League and was taken up in the Bay United Academy at the age of 16.
“We would take time to train with the professional team and the likes of Arthur Baartman.
“But unfortunately, in 2009, I suffered a long-term injury that saw me out and on the sidelines for two seasons.
“I had issues with my ligament in my right knee and so I had to have two operations.
“This was an emotional period for me.
When he returned to the club, United had been sold and the franchise moved to
Polokwane. But the goalkeeper stayed behind with the academy.
In 2013, he joined Mthatha Bucks, who were playing in the ABC Motsepe League at the time.
During his stay with the team in 2014, they won promotion and went to the national playoffs in Gauteng, but failed to make it to the National First Division.
In 2015, Maranti decided to come back to Motherwell and was without a club for six months.
“While I was home, the PSL at the time was introducing the MultiChoice Diski Challenge, so I helped the Chippa MDC, which was coached by Patrick Mayo and Eddie Dyaloyi, in the goalkeeping department” before he moved on to Sporting.