Nkosinathi Sibisi is another classic example of a late bloomer in South African football, according to one of the coaches who saw the defender work his way up to what he is now: a Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates player.
"We call him 'Bhodlela', a kid from the villages in Maritzburg who loved this game from a very young age and made his way to Mangosuthu University of Technology to study. I believe that's where he found his calling," explains Lindani Shezi, who is currently the reserve league coach at Lamontville Golden Arrows.
He met Sibisi when the youngster, then 18, took a chance as a trialist and immediately impressed those who were assessing the talent on offer.
"The university side was playing in the then Castle League, which is now called the regional leagues [in the SAFA amateur structures].
"I recall there were more than 1000 hopefuls, and to my surprise, he was the only one spotted by coaches Mandla Ncikazi and Vusumuzi Vilakazi - that's how his professional career started." Shezi says.
"He is such a reliable player, hence the nickname, which means 'bottle' because he is almost unbreakable."
Years later, Sibisi was handed the Arrows captain's armband, following that up with his national-team debut under newly appointed head coach Hugo Broos in June 2021, when Bafana hosted and beat Uganda 3-2.
Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av Soccer Club.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av Soccer Club.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
WORLD CUP DREAM BURNS BRIGHT
Neil Tovey Former Bafana Bafana captain
CONTINENTAL QUEENS
AS BANYANA BANYANA WAIT TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE AT THE WOMEN'S AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS, WE LOOK BACK AT THEIR PAST PERFORMANCES IN THE COMPETITION
TABLE TOPPERS
THE TOP 10 IN THE ALL-TIME PSL TABLE SINCE THE START OF THE 1996/97 SEASON MAKES FOR INTERESTING READING
WHO ARE BAYER LEVERKUSEN?
'Invincible' Bayer Leverkusen swept to a maiden German Bundesliga title in 2023/24. But who are they?
SET-PIECE SECRET
THE THROW-IN MAY SEEM A MUNDANE PART OF FOOTBALL, BUT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO IT THAN MEETS THE EYE
PSL SHARPSHOOTERS
AS THE NEW 2024/25 SEASON BEGINS, BOTH BRADLEY GROBLER AND PETER SHALULILE CAN TAKE AIM AT THE PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE'S GOALSCORING RECORD AS WE RUN DOWN THE TOP MARKSMEN SINCE 1996
BALANCING THE BOOKS
CAPE TOWN CITY HAVE TO FOREVER SELL PLAYERS TO BREAK EVEN. HERE ARE 11 TOP STARS THEY HAVE ALLOWED TO LEAVE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS
INTO THE BIG TIME
CLINTON LARSEN HAS LED LITTLE KNOWN LIMPOPO CLUB MAGESI FC TO THE ELITE LEAGUE OF SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL
REDEMPTION
THEMBINKOSI LORCH FACES ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SEASONS IN HIS CAREER IN 2024/25
AFRICA'S PIONEERS
AFRICA'S INFLUENCE ON ELITE EUROPEAN FOOTBALL IS NOT A NEW THING