TBT: Siyabonga Mdluli
In this week’s instalment of Throwback Thursday, former Free State Stars and Nathi Lions player Siyabonga Mdluli opens up about the day he went from hero to zero.
Siyabonga Mdluli during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Free State Stars at FNB Stadium on September 08, 2010 in Soweto, South Africa Photo by Lee Warren / Gallo Images
Mdluli says the incident happened during Lions’ game against PE Tecknikon when he was playing alongside Siyabonga Sangweni, who later played for Orlando Pirates.
“I was playing very well, even the coach (Malombo Sibiya) was impressed and calling me Rooza (likening him to Lucas Radebe),” Mdluli told Phakaaathi.
“It was windy that day in PE but I was winning every ball at the back and each time the bench would shout ‘well done Rooza you are strong’,” Mdluli added.
“Then we got a penalty, then I said no I will take it. I was confident because I was playing so well. But I missed. The goalkeeper saved the penalty and everyone thought I would score because I had a good game.
“Immediate after I missed the penalty, the same coach who cheered me on and called me a star from the start of the game said ‘Rooza you are no longer a star’ everyone laughed at me after that. It was a joke and we all laughed.”
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