Mamelodi Sundowns defence stalwart Mothobi Mvala has recalled his first inspiring moment with revered former midfielder Godfrey Sapula.
Born and bred in Theunissen, the 30-year-old gritty centre-back has risen to stardom to be Mamelodi Sundowns defence stalwart since his move from Highlands Park almost four years ago.
Simply put, he has been the backbone of Sundowns’ rearguard, where he usually partners with Grant Kekana.
As his rise continues, Mvala has recalled the inspiring moment he met Godfrey Sapula. The three-PSL title winner was star-struck as a ball boy when he saw Sapula during a tournament he hosted in Theunissen.
MVALA RECALLS WHEN HE FIRST MET SAPULA
At that time, Sapula had carved a niche in PSL. He was a terrorising attacker in his heydays for Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.
“Godfrey Sapula is the only professional player to host a tournament here [Theunissen]. By that time, I was very young. I was a ball boy wearing a Sundowns cap; I was happy to see him,” said Mvala.
“It’s like when you see a professional player, you hope that one day you can be like him, just to shake hands. But from a distance, I was very inspired. That tournament, even today, people still talk about it. That was the best tournament we had here.
“When I signed for Sundowns, that was the second time I saw him. I went straight to him and said, ‘Man, I am pleased to meet you. That is because I still remember when you hosted a tournament in my township’.
“He was also happy to see me, and he was asking about home and I told him that since his tournament, we never had another one. It’s something that I never forget. I was a ball boy,” added Mvala.
Nowadays, he spends his time grooming Masandawana’s future stars as a development coach.
In addition, he has groomed players like Siyabonga Mabena and Cassius Mailula, who now plies his trade in Major League Soccer [MLS] in the USA.
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