Faded stars remain out in the cold
It has become a norm for footballers to vanish from the top-flight scene without officially announcing their retirement. picks five local stars who seem to have gone this path
Some PSL stars retire without bidding farewell to their fans. It is not clear if they have hanged up their boots or their absence is temporary after failing to find a club. With their chances of gracing the elite league again very minimal, we’ve seen them disappear from the radar without even celebrating their football success with testimonial matches.
Katlego Mphela
Having enjoyed success at Supersport United, Mamelodi Sundowns and even at Bafana Bafana level, before also turning out for Kaizer Chiefs, Mphela finds himself without a team.
Now at 35, “Killer” is unlikely to find a Premiership club again, though he hasn’t confirmed hanging up his boots. The once-lethal marksman last played competitive football at second-tier outfit Royal Eagles in 2017.
Tefu Mashamaite
Mashamaite, who played a pivotal role in inspiring Chiefs to win what still remains their last league title in the 2014/15 season, is in the wilderness. The left-footed centre-back last experienced a professional club set-up via futile trials at Black Leopards in July last year.
The last team Mashamaite, 35, played for was Baberwa in the 2018/19 ABC Motsepe League season. The former Bidvest Wits skipper is likely to remain clubless until he officially retires from the beautiful game given his age and the duration of his inactivity.
Siboniso Gaxa
“Pa”, as Gaxa was affectionately known to his peers, played his last professional football match for Ajax Cape Town as winger in March 2018. The 36-yearold experienced right-back has also turned out for the likes of Supersport and Chiefs. He has since scored a political science and social studies degree from Wits University in March last year, maybe an indication that this was his gateway to life after football.
Njabulo Manqana
Manqana, 33, made his name at Golden Arrows, where he spent nearly seven fruitful years playing a crucial role in the club’s MTN8 glory in 2009. The skillful winger also had a brief spell at Orlando Pirates and Amazulu. His last professional team was the very same Eagles of Mphela in the 2014/15 campaign. He has had unsuccessful trials with various clubs between 2016 and 2018.
Abia Nale
Since leaving the now defunct Platinum Stars after their relegation in 2017, Nale hasn’t played for any professional side. The 33-year-old left-winger seem to have gone beyond his peak and it would take a miracle for him to play in the elite league again.