How Mkhanyiseli Siwahla came out of retirement to guide Lerumo to Nedbank Cup Last 32
Former Ajax Cape Town star Mkhanyiseli Siwahla has explained how he came out of retirement to guide ABC Motsepe League side Lerumo Lions to the Nedbank Cup Last 32.
Siwahla chose to retire when he returned to South Africa in March 2019 after leaving Polish club KS Proch Pionki.
The 36-year-old serves as a player-coach at Lerumo and has been in charge of the club for the past two years.
Last season, Lerumo finished second in Stream A of the SAFA North West ABC Motsepe League with 28 points, 11 points behind stream winners Army Rockets FC.
In the current campaign, the club is in position five with eight points after four outings. The Siwahla-coached side has yet to taste defeat in the league, having won two matches and drawn two.
To top it off, Lerumo is a very ambitious team that boasts players with intent who are also capable of standing their ground, as demonstrated in their qualifying round for the 2025 Nedbank Cup edition.
Lerumo is one of the eight clubs from the ABC Motsepe League that have secured a spot in the Nedbank Cup Last 32. The team will represent the North West province in the tournament.
WHY MKHANYISELI SIWAHLA CAME OUT RETIREMENT
In a recent interview with FARPost, Siwahla disclosed how Lerumo chairlady Sibongile Marokana persuaded him to return from retirement.
He further stated that the chairlady’s loyalty inspired him to play football again since she is not just his boss but also a real-life friend even before she could purchase the team.
“To be honest, I came out of retirement because of the loyalty that the chairlady showed me. I didn’t want to play football anymore, especially in South Africa,” Siwahla told this publication.
“When I came back from overseas, I knew how South Africans thought about me [labelled as a “bad boy”]. So, when I returned, I just wanted to retire and see what I could do about my life moving forward.
“But she [the chairlady] came and convinced me otherwise, and that’s when I decided to give the little bit that I have to the team because she has been loyal to me.”
Siwahla continued: “What made it easier [to change my mind] is that the chairlady of Lerumo Lions and I have been friends since before she could have a team. So, having a team has been a dream for her.
“I remember we used to talk on the phone when I was still overseas, and she said that when I returned back to South Africa, she would buy a team and would like to work with me, and that’s how she became my boss.”
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