The meteoric rise of Mthetheleli Mthiyane at Stellenbosch FC might never have happened if his former mentor had succeeded in taking him across the border.
Mandla Qhogi, the former Milford FC head coach, has revealed that he originally planned to lure the midfielder to Eswatini giants Nsingizini Hotspurs before the Winelands club intervened.
Mthiyane made the leap from the Motsepe Foundation Championship to the top-flight in July, trading Milford FC for Stellenbosch. Since the move, the 24-year-old has become a cornerstone of Steve Barker’s midfield, racking up 20 appearances in 24 matches across all competitions.
Following his departure from Milford in February, Qhogi was appointed head coach of Nsingizini Hotspurs in May. He admits that Mthiyane was his primary transfer target for the Eswatini Premier League side.
“Before he went to Stellenbosch, I was actually planning to come to Eswatini with him,” Qhogi revealed in an interview with FARPost. “But because he found a better opportunity, I had to let him go.”
THE ESWATINI PLAN THAT NEVER WAS FOR MTHIYANE
The tactician praised Stellenbosch for their thorough recruitment process, noting that coach Steve Barker and the Stellies technical team reached out to him personally before finalizing the deal.
“I would like to extend a big thanks to coach Steve Barker and [Chief Scout] Vinos because they contacted me before they signed Mthetheli,” added Qhogi.. “They asked about his background, his behavior, and whether he could really help them. Having worked with him, I was able to provide the reference he needed to get this opportunity.”
Qhogi, who oversaw Mthiyane’s development during the 2024/25 season, isn’t surprised by how quickly the KZN-born player has adapted to the high intensity of the PSL.
“I am very happy about his progress. At Milford, you could see he was a dedicated boy who always wanted to stand out,” he added.
While Mthiyane is currently a “critical figure” in the Stellies setup, his former coach believes the Cape Winelands might only be a stepping stone. Qhogi concluded with a bold prediction: “I think in the next season, we might see him playing for one of the big teams.”
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