Former Ajax Cape Town sensation Mkhanyiseli Siwahla has given his advice to Luphumlo ‘Kaka’ Sifumba after the 17-year-old made his debut over the weekend, writes Joshua Hendricks.
The teenager debuted against Orlando Pirates on Saturday afternoon when he was introduced in the 84th minute for Juan Zapata.
Makalegs, as Siwahla was affectionately known, debuted at the age of 15 for the Urban Warriors.
He scored a goal in an ABSA Cup game against Dynamos, making him the youngest player to score a goal in 2004, at 15 years and 174 days.
“When you make your debut at that age, eish, it’s a lot of pressure,” Siwahla told FARPost.
“It’s the professional set-up. It’s about where you come from, and you are a star. There’s so much pressure on you, so it’s all about managing that pressure.
Siwahla’s advice to Sifumba
“If he continues to listen more to the management of Cape Town City and listen to the team’s rules, I think he will come right.”
The 34-year-old Siwahla is the head coach of ABC Motsepe League side Bokone NW FC in Brits.
He came out of retirement last January to play for the third-tier side but has since taken up the coaching role.
“I made my debut when I was 15 turning 16, but he is in a good team and good hands, with the Chairman Mr Comitis,” continued the former Chippa United forward.
“He needs to listen to his coaches, listen to him [Comitis]. He will guide him in the right direction to achieve his dreams.
“The coach will play a huge role; the senior players, you know, will need to help him stay humble. That’s very important.”
Siwahla believes he should have left South Africa and gone overseas after his debut.
“Everything happens so fast. So after the debut, I should have changed my environment. It would have been interesting to see what could have happened. That is what I would do differently.
“I’d be learning about different cultures and different things, and the people there would have given me better guidance if I made a mistake so that I could learn about life and many other things.
“Here in South Africa, people bury you if you make a mistake. So for me, Cape Town City is like a European environment, and I think Mr Comitis will guide him based on the road that I and others took.
“He will use our mistakes to guide him. What happened to us will help him and other people.”
Siwahla is convinced that going to Europe early would help shape Sifumba’s career.
“So for Kaka to go Europe will be nice for him because he will learn more there. He will be more focused overseas because here, when you are done with the training, you go home.”
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