Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
A place on Da Gama’s ship to Rio will bring Mihlali’s dreams closer
PSL clubs tell him he’s not his brother, so Mayambela’s goal is to make it in Europe
AFTER a breakthrough season playing for Djurgardens in Sweden, Mihlali Mayambela is hopeful of landing a place in the South African Under- 23 Olympic squad. The Rio 2016 football tournament kicks off in August.
Mayambela was a guest at last week’s Diski Nites event in the city, hosted by the ebullient Sizwe Mbebe, and the 19-yearold rising star from Khayelitsha spoke of his dreams and ambitions.
“I haven’t had any communication from any of the SA U23 selectors, but I’m ready if picked,” said Mayambela. “But if it doesn’t happen, then that’s also okay… I will respect the coach’s decision. There are many talented players in South Africa. My job is just to keep playing well and hope that they recognise what I can do.”
Since winning the Player of the Tournament award at last year’s Bayhill U19 competition, the teenager has enjoyed a meteoric dash to stardom. As he readily revealed, Swedish supporters are already chanting his name from the terraces.
But Mayambela also said that it wasn’t always easy getting to where he is now. He admits that things never went too well earlier on his junior career, and that labouring under the pressure of his well-known older brother, Mark, was a contributing factor.
Mark Mayambela is an experienced, highly- rated professional who had a spell at Djurgardens, as well as stints at PSL clubs Bloemfontein Celtic, Orlando Pirates, Mpumalanga Black Aces, Chippa United and SuperSport United.
“There was pressure,” said the teenage Mihlali. “When I was at the Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs academies, they always said I wasn’t good enough, that I wasn’t ready, and that I wasn’t like my brother.
“I returned to Cape Town and people always asked me why I was back, did I fail in Joburg. But the truth is just that those clubs never really believed in me, and that affected my confidence.”
After his star turn at the Bayhill, which caught the eye of the numerous European scouts in attendance, Mayambela,
played briefly for NFD club Cape Town All Stars. But he knew that his soughtafter overseas transfer was imminent.
“I’ve always said that I don’t want to play in the PSL,” he said. “My goal has always been to play in Europe. And it was with that in mind that I knew I had to impress at the Bayhill. I scored in the opening game and that gave me the belief, and after that my confidence was up.
“When I was told after the Bayhill that I would be going to Sweden for trials, I was ready. When I got there, I initially trained with the assistant coach, and then the next day there was a game to play.
“I came on with 20 minutes to go, got the ball on the wing on the counter, killed a few people, and scored with a left-foot shot. I knew then that was it… they had to sign me.
“When I returned to Cape Town, I played for Cape Town All Stars, but I knew I would soon be on my way. I was just waiting for the deal with Djurgardens to be concluded.”
Though he is now settling in nicely in Sweden, Mayambela acknowledges the move overseas was tough at the beginning.
“It was difficult,” he said. “It’s a whole new life, I’m still very young and I was on my own. There were no parents to guide me and I had to motivate and inspire myself.
“But I told myself that I had to make sure that I work very hard, that I wanted to make a name for myself in Europe. I’ve done well so far, things are looking good… and it’s just up to me to keep working and keep getting better.
“I think I’ve learnt a lot since coming to Sweden. Most importantly, I’ve learnt that football is not just about running and playing, it’s also about thinking, about knowing when to pass and went to skill. I haven’t yet reached where I want to be, but that will come with time.”
With Mayambela slowly making his mark in Sweden, he has already set his objectives for the future.
“I’m looking at staying at Djurgardens for perhaps another two or three years, to keep learning, to keep improving, and then I want to move on to an even bigger club in Europe,” he said.
And to bring that dream even closer, a place in the SA U23 Olympic side would provide the ideal stage for Mayambela to impress the many big European clubs watching the global sporting spectacular for fresh, new talent.
But, as the talented teenager says, it’s out of his hands. The decision on whether he is selected for the Olympics is in the hands of SA U23 coach Owen da Gama.