Richards Bay FC striker Yanela Mbuthuma has spoken out regarding the recent speculation connecting him with moves to Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, while also sharing his thoughts on his recent call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad.
Since joining the Natal Rich Boyz at the start of the 2022/23 season, the 23-year-old forward has been developing impressively. He’s now considered one of the most promising young talents in the PSL.
Richards Bay spotted Mbuthuma’s talent at the inaugural Khabba Cup tournament in Umlazi back in 2023. He quickly became a regular starter for the Jomo Biyela-owned side, making an impact by scoring 10 goals and providing eight assists in 83 appearances in all competitions.
He earned a place in the recently announced Bafana squad, which will compete in international friendly matches against Mozambique and Tanzania in June.
Mbuthuma says he’s still quite shocked by the national team call-up as he wasn’t expecting it at all. He added that he couldn’t have pictured himself donning the national team’s colours.
MBUTHUMA STILL ‘SHOCKED’ BY THE BAFANA CALL-UP
“I’m very happy that I have been given an opportunity and was called to the national team,” said Mbuthuma. “I just want to score more goals so that I can progress even more and grow as a striker.
“I was very shocked when I got this opportunity because I wasn’t expecting it. When I first started playing football, I wasn’t even picturing myself at this level. So, I’m still shocked.”
Following his impressive performances this season, he has been heavily linked with the Soweto giants – Pirates and Chiefs, who reportedly enquired about his availability.
However, Mbuthuma recently put pen to paper on a new five-year long-term deal at Richards Bay. This means any interested club would likely have to pay a hefty amount for his transfer.
Despite reports linking him to big clubs, Mbuthuma says he pays little attention to the speculation, preferring instead to prioritise his growth at Richards Bay.
MBUTHUMA COMMENTS ON CHIEFS & PIRATES RUMOURS
“I don’t pay attention to that a lot because I play to entertain people, not because I wanna impress big teams,” added Mbuthuma.
“For now, that’s not in my mind. I’m still okay at Richards Bay, so I can just prove myself even more.”
RELATED STORY: Chiefs-linked star inks long-term deal with Richards Bay FC