AmaZulu FC loanee Minenhle Makhathini, currently playing for FC Ravens, has opened up on his true feelings about the loan move and outlined his fervent desire to secure a return to his parent club.
Makhathini’s promising football journey took a major leap in 2023 when the young star fulfilled a childhood dream: signing for PSL side AmaZulu FC. The move saw the 20-year-old step up dramatically from the fourth tier, joining Usuthu’s DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] team from fourth-tier league side Maritzburg City FC, as the club prioritised nurturing his development.
To further sharpen his talent, AmaZulu subsequently loaned Makhathini to Eastern Cape ABC Motsepe League side FC Ravens for the current season.
The KZN-born midfielder has embraced his ongoing loan stint with the Bizana outfit, which he admits has forced him into a period of profound cultural immersion and adaptation, including learning Xhosa as a Zulu speaker.
“Since I got here, I have been having fun. I am enjoying my time, and not being at AmaZulu has taught me how to adapt to a different environment,” Makhathini said in an interview with FARPost. “I have had to learn a different culture and a different language.”
Reflecting on the move itself, Makhathini admitted that hearing the news initially felt like rejection from his parent club. However, time and experience have shifted his perspective, and he now views the loan as a valuable opportunity for crucial professional growth.
“The loan move has given me a new challenge. When you are told that you will be sent on loan, you first become doubtful, thinking that you are being rejected. However, the truth is that going on loan is a good challenge for me to be able to push myself to my full potential,” he reflected.
AMAZULU FC STAR MAKHATHINI SHARES CAREER AMBITIONS
Makhathini’s current loan spell is a critical test—a chance for him to prove his readiness to claim a permanent spot in the AmaZulu senior team squad. The youngster is part of a wave of emerging talent vying for a place in the Usuthu lineup, but he has fully embraced the challenge, pledging to go above and beyond to set himself apart from the competition.
“I need to work hard and push myself to do extra so that when I go back to the team [AmaZulu], I come back a different player,” Makhathini told FARPost.
He further shared his bold ambitions for the future, including donning the Bafana Bafana jersey. “In the next two years, I see myself playing for my parent club, AmaZulu and hoping to win cups and playing for the national team,” he asserted.
The former Maritzburg City player concluded by acknowledging the grit and grind required to turn his ambitions into reality.
“So, in order for me to reach that level, I need to work very hard because the competition is too high,” he concluded.
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