Ex-Bafana Bafana midfielder May Mahlangu has shed light on a defining moment in his youth, revealing why he chose to walk away from the Kaizer Chiefs academy at the age of 12.
The journey of the Mpumalanga-born midfielder is one of resilience. In 2001, at just 11 years old, Mahlangu faced the devastating loss of both parents while playing for a local side, Remember FC.
Despite the personal tragedy, his talent caught the eye of scouts from Amakhosi just a year later.
However, his stay at Naturena was short-lived and marked by a feeling of being overlooked. Mahlangu stated that Chiefs coaches at the time didn’t see him as good enough to succeed at the club.
‘THEY DIDN’T SEE ANYTHING IN ME’: MAY MAHLANGU
“I was playing for a team called Remember FC when I lost my parents. I thought the world was over. But the following year, I got scouted by Kaizer Chiefs,” said Mahlangu on the Stars of Africa Podcast. “I went to Auckland Park, stayed there, and was coached by the coaches at Chiefs, but they didn’t see anything in me. However, that was not the end for me.”
Determined to find an environment where his potential would be nurtured, Mahlangu heard about a renowned youth developer who was branching out on his own from Chiefs. The person was none other than coach Farouk Khan.
MAY MAHLANGU’S DISAPPEARANCE: FROM CHIEFS TO STARS OF AFRICA
At the time, coach Khan—who had played a pivotal role in the rise of legends like Jabu Mahlangu and Thabiso ‘Skapie’ Malatsi at Chiefs—was establishing the Stars of Africa Football Academy.
“I heard that coach Farouk was there [Chiefs] developing great players like Jabu Mahlangu, Thabiso ‘Skapie’ Malatsi, and Nhlanhla Kubheka; the list is endless. I then heard that he was starting his own academy called Stars of Africa. It was a dream that he wanted to start an academy with his family,” Mahlangu revealed.
“So, I had to run away; that’s how brave I was, and I was going to turn 12 years old. Then I ran away from Kaizer Chiefs to go to Turffontein for a trial [at Stars of Africa].”
The gamble paid off. After arriving in Turffontein, the young winger immediately impressed Khan.
“At that time, I was playing as a right winger. Coach Farouk saw me, scouted me, and I never went back to Kaizer Chiefs. I knew that I was in good hands,” he added.
Mahlangu officially joined Stars of Africa at its inception in January 2003. The academy provided a holistic environment, ensuring the youngsters were enrolled in school while honing their football craft.
By 2005, Mahlangu began to shine brightly. He led the academy to victory in the Engen tournament, walking away with the Player of the Tournament accolade.
His leadership qualities were evident early on; when the academy acquired a status in the Vodacom League [now the ABC Motsepe League] as Alexandra United, a 14-year-old Mahlangu was entrusted with the captain’s armband.
“I also knew that it was going to be the start of my journey. I came to the Stars of Africa in 2003; that’s when the academy started. So, I joined them in January, and they put us in school, and everything was smooth,” he stated.
“In 2005, we won the Engen tournament, and I was named the Player of the Tournament. That’s when I knew things were going to be good for me. I remember very well that the coach [Khan] bought the status in the Vodacom League; we were Alexander United. At the age of 14, I was the captain of that team.”
Mahlangu’s stellar displays at Stars of Africa set the stage for a successful career abroad.
He spent over 15 years playing in Europe and Asia after leaving South Africa as a teenager. Throughout his professional career, he played for various clubs across Sweden, Romania, Belgium, Turkey, and Kazakhstan.
His senior journey included notable stints at Helsingborgs IF, IFK Göteborg, Sint-Truidense VV, Konyaspor, Dinamo București, Ludogorets Razgrad, Ordabasy, and FC Aksu.
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