Bafana Bafana star Mihlali Mayambela has opened up on his decision to join ambitious Cypriot First Division outfit Omonia Nicosia, completing the move just hours after his departure from Aris Limassol was confirmed.
On Thursday, Aris Limassol confirmed the departure of Mayambela, having reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract six months early. The 29-year-old had a commendable stint at the club, shining for three seasons in Cyprus. He emerged as a utility player at the club.
In 125 appearances, Mayambela managed to score 19 goals, while also providing 15 assists. He was part of the team that clinched the 2023 Cypriot First Division title and the 2023 Cypriot Super Cup.
Hours after the exit announcement by Aris Limassol, Omonia Nicosia revealed his arrival on a two-and-a-half-year contract. Mayambela will be hoping to reclaim his place in Bafana Bafana ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Having missed out on the recent AFCON squad, this is a fresh opportunity to prove his worth.
WHAT MAYAMBELA SAID AFTER JOINING OMONIA NICOSIA
In his first interview with Omonia Nicosia, Mayambela said he chose to join them, as they match his current ambition.
“I’m very happy to be here, and I’m looking forward to giving my best for the team and for the club as a whole. I’m very, very happy to be here. As soon as I heard about the interest, I was very excited to be here, and now I’m here. Like I said, let’s get to business,” he said.
“To be honest, whenever I play in Cyprus, I always feel good also. The environment is good, and I think everybody in the country knows how much of a big club Omonia is, and I don’t think you need a lot of research to know that.
“As I said, there were other options, but I made the right choice, and it had to be Omonia. So I’m very happy to be here and looking forward to the future. Big targets in front of us. We want to win the Championship, the Cup, and now we are in the playoffs of the Conference League.”
Mayambela asserted readiness for his presence to be felt at the club. He added, “I’m a person who likes challenges. As a player, it’s important for you to have these types of challenges because football is a short career. You always want to challenge yourself and play amongst good players.
“Like I said, all these things that you mentioned now, they played a big role also for me to decide to come here. I’m very, very excited for this future and I believe that we have everything it takes to even achieve good things with the club. So I’m more than happy to be here.”
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