Bongani Siqoko: Soccer
When the new national soccer team caretaker coach Matsilele Jomo Sono named his squad for the Confederation of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) Cup match against Namibia in Windhoek on Friday, one player whose call-up was long overdue is Mamelodi Sundowns defender Themba Mnguni.
Mnguni has been awaiting the call-up since the beginning of the season. “I have beeen waiting for the call-up since the days of Clive [Barker]. I have been playing well since the begining of the 1996 season,” said the soft-spoken Mnguni.
When he was not named in Barker’s squad, he was discouraged but vowed to work even harder to attract the attention of the national selectors. When he received a message two weeks ago to phone Sono he knew his time had come. “I knew that my chance had finally arrived. He phoned me after he [Sono] was appointed caretaker coach and asked my age. Nothing came to my mind then. But after my name was included I felt on top of the world” said Mnguni
Drafted into the squad two weeks ago, Mnguni captained Sundowns to a 1-1 all draw against Orlando Pirates that weekend. Against Wits University the following Friday, he played brilliantly and was the rock at the heart of the Sundowns defence. “I was motivated by the inclusion in the team by Jomo. I really had to prove to him that he did not make a mistake by calling me to do duty for my country.”
Although he missed the warm-up friendly game against the Eastern Cape Invitation XI last week due to club commitments, he is confident that this will not be a problem because Sono knows and appreciates the way he plays. “He likes the way I play,” said Mnguni.
While other players have been struggling this season, Mnguni has been playing like a seasoned professional. Other players called up by Sono like Brendon Silent, Thabo Mooki and Thabang Lebese have all had their share of disappointment this season.
With Mooki initially struggling to return to the form that made him one of the brightest prospects in the country last season, Lebese also struggling to claim a regular starting line-up alongside Mooki at Kaizer Chiefs earlier this season and Silent watching the game from the stands for the better part of this season because of an injury, Mnguni has been shining with his consistency.
Surely, he is not the same player he was when he first broke into the Sundowns first team two seasons ago. He attributes his great form to former Sundowns coach Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala who took the young defender under his wing and taught him the finer points of defending. “I’m thankful to Screamer for what he did for me,” he said.
Born 23 years ago, Mnguni, like any other township kid, started playing soccer at a young age on the dusty streets of Mamelodi. In 1995 he made his professional debut for the “Brazilians” in their 1-0 win over rivals Chiefs, after graduating from Sundowns Under-19 colts.
The same year he was selected for the national Under-20 team winning, 10 caps before graduating to the Under-23 side — popularly known as Amagluglug.
He earned nine caps with the Olympic side and toured the United States with the team three seasons ago. “I got a lot of experience as a young player during that tour. I watched how the Americans play and the way they attack, and I learnt how to read a striker’s mind,” he said.
Mnguni is strong, can tackle and his ability to overlap and assist in attack has made him the right candidate for the right back position. Mnguni is fast making a name for himself as a free-kick specialist after many of his well-taken shots resulted into goals. This season he has scored vital goals for Sundowns too.
With Bafana Bafana’s defence seemingly shaky Mnguni could prove to be the missing ingredient in defence.
“If Jomo gives me a chance I will take it with both hands. I want to prove to him that I deserve to be in the team and I can’t wait to play for South Africa,” said Mnguni. Asked if he could be in the team to face Namibia as captain Lucas Radebe is unavailable, he said it is difficult to tell because there is a lot of competition for places in the team: “Everyone wants to play so one can never know,”
He is aware that he has to work very hard to make the team. “I just have to work hard to earn a cap and I’m going to make it.”
It is every player’s dream to play overseas and it is not different with Mnguni. “I would like to play abroad but I’ll have to wait until after the Burkina Faso. And it will depend onmy club if they want to release me.”