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New Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Lebogang Manyama does not see his short stay at Turkish side Konyaspor as a failure, but believes it has made him a better player.
Manyama joined Konyaspor from Cape Town City in September last year but had to come back home after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
“I don’t even think about it. I always try to make success of everything and if it doesn’t work out I will try again some other time. We had three coaches in one season. The coach who brought me there played me in a couple of games and I felt I did well.
“The second coach came in and didn’t play me at all. With the third coach there was no option because I had not been registered. I wanted to play football, never mind the money and playing in Europe, if you are not enjoying yourself there is no point,” he said.
And now he is where he was always meant to be, he revealed. “I have always dreamt of being here (at Chiefs) but it didn’t work out. I am here now and I think it is the right time and with the experi- ence I have gained I am hoping to add value to the team.
“Luckily I have played with some of the guys at the national team and at some of the clubs where I have been before. I have also worked with coach (Patrick) Mabedi at Aces, so I am quite familiar with a few of them. This is a big team and there is always expectation so hopefully we can achieve our goals,” he added.
The 28-year-old attacking midfielder joined Chiefs in a crucial season with the side having gone three seasons without a single piece of official silverware. This means one thing: pressure. But Manyama is not worried about it.
“There is always pressure. There was pressure at SuperSport United, same thing at City and in Turkey. It’s the nature of the game. Every team who play professional football have goals and that brings pressure. We have to handle it.”
Amakhosi host AmaZulu at FNB Stadium at 6pm tomorrow and Manyama, who was rested in Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Free State Stars, hopes to make the starting team.