On-loan Chiefs midfielder ready for action at City 

“I’m excited and hopefully I get the chance to play. Everybody wants to play in a derby whether it is a Polokwane derby or Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates because a derby is a derby and I would be happy. I am happy to be at Polokwane, I want to help the team and hopefully the team will help me to grow and I will make the most out of it,” he said.

The 29-year-old does not expect to walk into Clinton Larsen’s team, particularly as he has not had much game time following a lengthy injury he sustained immediately after joining the Glamour Boys in 2018.

“Everywhere you go as a footballer you have to expect competition because nothing comes easily, you have to work hard and make sure you earn your place in the team. Whether I get a few minutes, start the game or get on in the second half, it doesn’t matter to me. What matters is that I give out the best performance,” he said.

Mahlasela added: “My situation is different, the first day I got to Chiefs I got injured and I was out for eight months, so I’m glad that it did not happen here, I managed to finish the first training session with the team. Being out of football for eight months is something huge. You need to deal with your confidence and fitness when you come back. I’m really glad that right now I’m injury free and I am ready to play the football that I know.”