It’s common knowledge that not all the youngsters coming through academies get the opportunity to represent those teams at senior level. However, there are a few notable players who, after failing to break into the senior teams where they started still managed to hold their own elsewhere. Sihle Ndebele sets forth the stories of five of such footballers
Lebohang Maboe (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Maboe, 26, launched his career at Kaizer Chiefs’ juniors. However, he left the club before graduating to the senior side. He started to knuckle down during his time at then second tier side Mbombela United. After two impressive years at Mbombela, Maboe earned a move to top-flight side Maritzburg United, where he lasted three years before Mamelodi Sundowns snatched him up. To date, the versatile midfielder has won three league titles with the Brazilians.
Mpho Makola (Cape Town City)
Like Maboe, Makola’s first top-flight side was Chiefs. Things didn’t work out for Makola at Naturena as he never ascended to the first team. It was at Free State Stars in 2009 that the now 35-year-old winger made his top-flight debut. His stellar displays at Ea Lla Koto attracted Orlando Pirates in 2012. At the Buccaneers Makola established himself as a star, making more than 170 appearances in seven years.
Sipho Mbule (SuperSport United)
Mbule, 23, may have been discovered by the famed Harmony Academy in his hometown of Bethlehem in the Free State but his first taste of a professional set-up was at Pirates. Mbule spent six months at Pirates’ youth structures before moving to Matsatsantsa, where he went through the development ranks before proving his worth at the top level from 2016 to date.
Daniel Cardoso (Chiefs)
Cardoso, who has grown to be one of the trusted defenders at Amakhosi, was a journeyman during the teething stage of his football career. Before finally making his Premiership debut as a 23-year-old under Steve Komphela at Ea Lla Koto in 2012, Cardoso had stint at academies of clubs such as Bidvest Wits, Jomo Cosmos and even Pirates.
Mduduzi Mdantsane (City)
Mdantsane is another Chiefs development product. The 26-year-old midfielder spent a few years at the Chiefs academy but couldn’t break into the senior side. Despite struggling to make a name for himself at Naturena, Mdantsane has made up for that. Having made his debut for Baroka in 2017, he captained the team to their first major trophy (the Telkom Knockout) in the 2018/19 season.
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