Kaizer Chiefs‘ teenage striker Naledi Hlongwane’s Carling Black Label Cup victory took on a deeper meaning when he revealed his plans for the R100,000 Man of the Match pickings. The teenager emerged as the star of the show at Orlando Stadium, scoring two goals in All Stars XI’s 3-0 victory over Magesi FC.
His impressive performance earned him the R100,000 Man of the Match award, denying Magesi goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze a clean sweep of the prize throughout the tournament.
The 19-year-old, who lost his father last year, intends to use the prize money to erect a tombstone, a touching gesture that highlights the profound impact of family on his journey.
While his Carling All Star teammates celebrated the emphatic victory, the youngster’s thoughts turned not to personal glory but his deep personal vow.
“The money that I got today,” he shared with journalists, his voice thick with emotion, “as my father passed away last year, I was planning to at least do a tombstone for him.”
The revelation, delivered with raw honesty and heartfelt sincerity, got him applause from the journalists at the post-match press conference.
It instantly shifted the focus from the dazzling display that had earned him the hefty prize money, painting a picture of a young man driven not solely by ambition and the desire for success but by a profound sense of filial duty and a deep love for his late father.
WHAT NALEDI HLONGWANE WILL DO WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE MONEY
“And then the other one, obviously I’m gonna give my mom, and then the other one goes to the savings account,” he added.
Hlongwane relished the experience of sharing the dressing room with professional footballers. He mentioned Chiefs senior team player Mfundo Vilakazi and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Thembinkosi Lorch.
“It was a great experience playing with the big players in the PSL like abo Thembinkosi [Lorch]. And then yeah Mfundo [Vilakazi] obviously, I’m used to him. I have been training with him before he was promoted to the first team. I trained with him from Under 17, Under 19, and DDC. And then he was promoted and went to the senior team.”
Now, with the Carling Cup triumph behind him, Hlongwane sets his sights on making a significant impact at club level. He dreams of following in Vilakazi’s footsteps, making his mark on the Amakhosi first team.
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