How misfortunes have sharpened ex-Sundowns defender
Former SA Junior International and Mamelodi Sundowns defender Thendo Mukumela has opened up on how the difficulties in his career have made him grow mentally.
Mukumela is now in the books of Motsepe Foundation Championship side Black Leopards. He joined the Limpopo side following his departure from AmaZulu FC at the beginning of the season.
The 25-year-old Sundowns youth graduate was promoted to the senior team by coach Pitso Mosimane during the 2018/19 season. He was loaned out to Ajax Cape Town, now Cape Town Spurs, after failing to break into the senior team.
EX-MAMELODI SUNDOWNS DEFENDER HOPEFUL OF TURNING HIS CAREER AROUND
Mukumela was once tipped to be a future Bafana Bafana defender at some point. He spent four seasons at the Urban Warriors and was at some point linked with a move to Kaizer Chiefs.
A move to AmaZulu in the 2022/23 season saw him make only four appearances before his move to Leopards.
“I am in the right space mentally because since I came back I have played a few games. I have also been part of the leaders of the team so it boosts my confidence as well and it gives me hope,” Mukumela told FARPost.
“There are a great bunch of players here and that helps me as an individual. That also helps the team to gel together and I am happy to be here.
“I wouldn’t say I am where I want to be [in terms of my career] but I think injuries played a huge role in me not getting to where I want to be. But I still have belief and hope that from here I will still do great things,” he said.
THENDO MUKUMELA ON HIS DEPARTURE AT USUTHU AFTER JUST ONE SEASON
Mukumela has also explained why he left DStv Premiership side AmaZulu.
“At that point in time, I was not playing enough games and I wasn’t at my best physically as well. Hence I had to come back home and revive my career. It’s no use staying at a play you are not playing while you can go and make a name for yourself somewhere else.”
Mukumela has played for the national Under 17, 20 and 23 sides. He was part of the Bafana team at the 2017 and 2019 COSAFA Cup tournaments.
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