Hlompho Kekana
Has the Mamelodi Sundowns stalwart come to the end of his stay at Chloorkop and what has been his impact on those who worked with him.
A cloud of uncertainty has been hanging over Hlompho Kekana, with Mamelodi Sundowns choosing not to field the midfielder so far this season, nor give any explanation as to why. Could this mean that Kekana’s time at Sundowns has come to an end after his trophy-laden career with the club in which he was a major part of their success? KICK OFF’s Lovemore Moyo looks into the matter.
Despite signing a four-year contract extension just last year, it seems as if Hlompho Kekana has been deemed surplus to requirement by his club Mamelodi Sundowns.
From being bestowed a legend status when he signed that new deal at the back of leading the club to numerous honours, Kekana now finds himself in limbo.
While his situation of stopping training with the first team has only been confirmed via the grapevine, some will argue that it was all too evident that Kekana was headed to the exit door the moment Pitso Mosimane left.
A mere five starts from the 15 appearances that he was afforded last season already gave indications that he wasn’t going to be the influential figure whose leadership was relied upon in the nine seasons prior when he averaged 36 games per term.
The armband that he wore has already been exchanging hands in his absence and he has been sidelined quicker than was ever imagined with Rivaldo Coetzee, Andile Jali and Mothobi Mvala getting the job done in that midfield space.
It appears that the eight minutes that the Sundowns number eight played in last season’s curtain closer against Cape Town City will now go down as the last of 343 appearances during his stay at Chloorkop.
“Respect is what I have always associated with KK,” points out Jacob Sakala when describing Kekana.
The veteran coach handed Kekana his top-flight debut as far back as the 2004/05 season at Black Leopards. Almost two decades later, Sakala still speaks glowingly about the 36-year-old.
“I had him when he was young, but he was already courageous, and I could see that there was a great future in this boy. He has always been one of the most disciplined players that I have ever known, which is why his character has never changed from back then to now.
“He was always a good player but what also struck me were the leadership qualities in him. When there were delays in payments or he was underpaid while not playing regularly, he was never one to start small meetings to create divisions. He is where he is because of his nature. When he had problems, he wouldn’t start
“ANYONE WHO KNOWS HLOMPHO LOVES HIM BECAUSE OF THE GOOD HUMAN BEING THAT HE IS.”
gossiping but come straight to me and tell me that he needs an engagement with management.
“Even up to now he is the kind of guy that would stop me on the street and offer to fill up my car with petrol. He remains grateful to me for the role I played, and he remembers me. He will never change a bit in who he is. I wish all players could be like that and I don’t think there is any coach who has ever had problems with him.
“This boy is like Mgababa [Gerald Raphahlela], who was honest to the core. Hlompho is a likeable human being who I still wish to see continue playing because he has respect under all conditions and believes in solving problems instead of just complaining,” says Sakala.