Sekhukhune United defender Medupi Thokolo has opened up on why being rejected by Chippa United never discouraged him from pursuing his dream, revealing how he used the rejection to turn his career around.
Thokolo has been one of the finds of the season since making his debut for Betway Premiership side Sekhukhune.
He joined Babina Noko after an impressive season in the Motsepe Foundation Championship with Casric Stars.
The 21-year-old has already won two Man-of-the-Match awards in the first two league games of the 2025/26 season. But the move to Sekhukhune nearly did not happen after the player was recommended to fellow Premiership side Chippa United.
HOW A MOVE TO CHIPPA UNITED COULD NOT MATERIALISE FOR MEDUPI THOKOLO
The Chilli Boys missed out on signing Thokolo after former head coach Sinethemba Badela was reportedly against the move. Badela is said to be of the view that Thokolo was not yet ready for the big stage.
But in an interview with this publication, Thokolo opened up on why he wasn’t bothered by suggestions that he wasn’t good enough.
“For me, that really didn’t affect me because I know there will always be noise from outside coming to say ‘I don’t think this one is good enough’,” Thokolo told FARPost.
WHY SEKHUKHUNE UNITED DEFENDER GREW A THICK SKIN
“I basically went through that my whole life, and I’m here. Sometimes, people will think I am here by chance and not by my talent.
“So I just wanted to make the most of it. Every day, I thrive in the chances that I get and the opportunities and show the rest of the people that I actually deserve to be here.”
“I never trained with them [Chippa United], I was just recommended. My first club that I came to was Sekhukhune. After the playoffs, I was called to the Sekhukhune office. Who was watching me or how that happen? I don’t know.”
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