PROFILE

Andile Mbenyane is a rare breed these days, a oneclub man who has turned down fortunes elsewhere to stay loyal to the team that gave him his break in professional football.

The Chippa United forward has been a part of the Chilli Boyz since they competed in the ABC Motsepe League, playing a major role in guiding them through the South African football pyramid to the Premier League.

The 31-year-old has had plenty of trials and tribulations along the way, both on the pitch and personally, but his opening goal in Saturday’s thrilling 4-4 Nedbank Cup semi-final draw with Bidvest Wits, and subsequent penalty shootout win, underscores his value to the team. Mbenyane is the captain of the side and it is unlikely there is a player in the PSL who has seen more coaches come and go than at the constant revolving door at Chippa. But through it all, he has largely remained a regular in the side, and now has 154 appearances that have yielded 28 goals since the side was elevated to the top-flight in 2012. This season is already his joint-best scoring return in the league. Mbenyane, born in Paarl in the Cape Winelands, was part of the famed Ajax Cape Town development system and made his PSL debut in a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs in September 2007.

But that was by far the highlight of his time at Ajax as he soon faded from first-team contention. After a spell on loan at Ikapa Sporting, he was released to join newlyformed Cape Town club Chippa in 2010.

He was a lead figure as Chippa managed back-to-back promotions and made a return to the top-flight in a 1-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns in August 2012.

Able to play anywhere across the front three, his goals’ ratio may not be eye-catching, but he is also a constant provider of goals for others and after nine seasons at Chippa remains one of their key men.

Tragedy struck when he was travelling to Cape Town from Port Elizabeth with his wife Ahluma, when their car was involved in an accident during which she was killed.

Although unscathed from the accident, it took Mbenyane some time to recover from the incident, but after three months he was able to continue his career.