Every professional footballer’s journey features someone who paved the way for their success. For newly signed TS Galaxy defender Katekani Mhlongo, that key figure was football agent Nimrod Mbhalati of Nida Sports Agency.
The 24-year-old central defender recently completed a move to the Mpumalanga-based side, penning a three-year contract from Marumo Gallants in the current transfer window.
It is a dream progression for a player who, just a few years ago, viewed the beautiful game merely as a pastime.
THE CHANCE ENCOUNTER AT GIYANI STADIUM BETWEEN MBHALATI AND MHLONGO
Mhlongo’s journey to the top flight began in 2022 during the Nida Sports talent trials hosted at Giyani Stadium—a showcase organised by Mbhalati to uncover raw talent.
When Mhlongo first stepped onto the pitch during the Nida Sports talent trials, playing professionally was the furthest thing from his mind.
“It was back in 2022 when the boy came to our trials,” Mbhalati recalled during an exclusive interview with FARPost. “He told me at that time that he was there just to enjoy himself and have fun, as he did not see football as a career.
“We gave him an opportunity to play, and we saw something in him that he didn’t see in himself. I then spoke to him after the trials to say, ‘Look, you have a bright future and a good height. Do you really want to play football?’ And he was like, ‘No, I don’t want to play football; I’m just playing for fun.'”
NIMROD MBHALATI’S PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF
Unwilling to let such potential go to waste, Mbhalati made it his mission to mentor the reluctant defender. When the trials returned the following year, a shift in Mhlongo’s mindset began to take shape.
“I took it upon myself to encourage him to play football,” Mbhalati explained. “He came again in 2023 for the second trial. I think at that time he had changed his mind and started to take football seriously.
“I told him straight to his face, ‘Look, with the height and talent that you have, you can play professional football one day,’ and he laughed at me.”
KATEKANI MHLONGO’S BREAKTHROUGH AT MARUMO GALLANTS
The defining turning point arrived when Mbhalati’s Nida Sports Academy played a friendly match against Gallants in Pretoria, who were competing in the Motsepe Foundation Championship at the time.
“To cut a long story short, we went to play a friendly game with Marumo Gallants,” explains Mbhalati. “He played for about 30 minutes, and they selected him. We negotiated a contract, and that’s how he joined Marumo Gallants.”
Mhlongo officially put pen to paper with the Abram Sello-owned outfit in January 2024. At the time, he was balancing his football prospects with his academics, pursuing a degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Johannesburg.
“After signing a professional contract with Marumo Gallants, he began to see that he could make a career out of football and envisioned himself playing for big clubs,” Mbhalati added. “He also started putting more effort into his work.”
PROVING HIS WORTH IN THE BETWAY PREMIERSHIP
Following a brief loan spell at Motsepe Foundation Championship side Leruma United, Mhlongo returned to Gallants in June 2025 ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. The talented centre-back went on to establish himself as one of the key players in the heart of Bahlabane ba Ntwa’s defence. He featured in 16 matches across all competitions.
He helped Gallants save their top-flight status last season. Gallants finished 14th on the log with 25 points from 30 games, securing survival on the final day of the campaign.
Mhlongo’s satisfying performances at the back did not go unnoticed. His rapid rise from trialist to reliable Betway Premiership defender caught the eye of TS Galaxy, who moved swiftly to secure his services on a long-term deal.
From kicking a ball purely for fun in Giyani to signing to play in the South African top tier, Mhlongo’s story stands as a testament to talent, belief, and the power of the right guidance at the right time.
RELATED STORY: Inside Katekani Mhlongo’s move to TS Galaxy: Contract details revealed
