Siyanda Zwane, formerly with Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns, has delivered a heartfelt plea to Orlando Pirates fan-favourite Sipho Mbule.
He has urged the midfield maestro to embrace the pain of extra work and unleash the full version of his talent.
Speaking on TikTok, the former defender assured from the outset that his message was not meant to discourage, but rather construct. The message is shaped by his own journey in professional football.
“Masterchef mfanaka, I just hope this video finds you well,” Zwane said. “This is not a video to criticise, but I want to give you a tool, a very, very good tool that also helped me a lot in my career while I was still playing.”
Zwane openly admitted that he was never the most gifted footballer during his playing days, explaining that discipline and extreme hard work were the foundations of his career.
“Personally, I was not a talented player during my playing days. Everybody who watched me knows that,” he said. “But the one thing that helped me a lot was extreme hard work.”
SIYANDA ZWANE: ‘THERE IS A PLAYER INSIDE OF YOU’
“You are in a better position than me, far better. Unlike me, you are gifted with talent,” Zwane said, adding that combining talent with work ethic could take Mbule to unexpected heights.
“There is this player inside of you that has not come out yet,” he said. “The player who is inside of you is waiting for you to unleash them.”
Zwane went on to reveal that it breaks him to witness Mbule struggle to hit his maximum level. Zwane described an image of the player within Mbule, “suffering”, desperate to be unravelled.
“I can imagine a Sipho Mbule that is in top, top physical condition,” he said. “I can imagine what that player can do for the country. What that player can do for Orlando Pirates. I am begging you.
Zwane said Mbule must ask himself uncomfortable questions, particularly why he is often substituted before matches end.
“Why am I always substituted after 60 minutes? Ask yourself why you don’t finish the games for Bafana Bafana?” Zwane said.
SUGGESTION OF A PERSONAL TRAINER
“My boy, I am begging you,” he said. “If you can’t push yourself physically, please find someone who will push you. Find a personal trainer.
“Every extra 30 minutes of training makes a huge difference,” Zwane said. “If you can fix this element, I promise you, you will be untouchable. You will be on that plane to the World Cup. My boy, I am begging you.
While praising Mbule’s technical brilliance, Zwane admitted it hurts to see the midfielder struggle off the ball, often leading to early substitutions.
“Additionally, it breaks my heart when they take you off. It pains me to see you disappear in games. I want to see you. Because you are an amazing player, you are a joy to watch.”
Zwane concluded by stressing that his message comes from a place of belief, not judgment. “When you love someone, you have difficult conversations. The intention is always to build, not to destroy. I hope this message finds you. Please try to find what you take from it and ignore what you don’t need. If anything I said did not sit well with you, please forgive me,” Zwane said.
Zwane made his name in the South African top division at Golden Arrows in the 2005/06 season and spent nearly a decade at the club.
He stepped into the big time with a move to Mamelodi Sundowns, where he lifted the CAF Champions League in 2016 and the CAF Super Cup in 2017.
Zwane’s final career chapters included spells with Ajax Cape Town, Bidvest Wits and Uthongathi. Subsequently, following his retirement, he became CEO of the Mangethe Foundation.
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