AmaZulu skipper, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, got candid about overcoming obstacles to achieve his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
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The story
Mphahlele began his professional football career at 17-years-old and the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs captain admits that he had to overcome many obstacles to fulfill his lifelong dreams.
'Rama' is born and bred in Ga-Mphahlele in the Limpopo province and was raised by his mother and grandmother, with Amakhosi revealing back in 2018, that Rama sold tomatoes and onions to make some extra money for the family when he was about 10-years-old.
In a IG Live conversation with presenter Lerato Phago, Mphahlele spoke about how difficult it was for him to make it out from where he came from and how his family wasn't as passionate about football.
"In my family, no one really played football and when I told people that I wanted to be a professional footballer, they would say 'are you crazy?'" says Rama, revealing that his mother played a huge role in getting him to believe that he can become a pro footballer one day.
Rama mentioned how his mother took a number down from the Turfloop School of Excellence, from a radio advert, to get him an opportunity to play at a higher level.
"From there, I went to ten different trials, even at Transnet School of Excellence, I think I went there five or six times and they would always say 'We will call you.' This opportunity [to join Turfloop School of Excellence] came from Jerry Ramohlale, may his soul rest-in-peace. That's where I went, I played there with Hlompho Kekana. Vincent Kobola was there, Edgar Manaka was in that academy and Lehlogonolo Masalesa. A lot of players came from there," mentioned Rama, adding:
"One day, we had a match and SuperSport United were invited by Jerry to come and watch. I played in that game and I was one of four players that were selected to go to the final trials in Johannesburg. My mom struggled a lot to play the fees at the academy, she didn't have the money to pay the fees quarterly. She only paid the first quarter and couldn't cover the second one. I was doing so well in the academy, I was three months and Jerry came in to offer a half-bursary to help cover my fees," said Rama.
He was scouted by SuperSport Feyenoord Academy, which produced the likes of Kamohelo Mokotjo, Thato Mokeke, Kermit Erasmus and Daine Klate among others.
"For me it was a dream come true [being scouted] my mom was happy, I was happy that she didn't have to suffer in paying fees after that. I'll never able to repay her for what she did. My mom played a big role in who I am today," says the experienced baller.
Ramahlwe went on to get his professional football breakthrough at Moroka Swallows before enjoying two stints at Mamelodi Sundowns and played for Kaizer Chiefs.
The two-time DStv Premiership winner mentioned that the pressure of providing for his family never allowed him to rest on his laurels.
"My siblings were doing so well at school. Fortunately, when I became a professional, I was able to send my older sister and little brother to school just to help liberate them, I didn't want them to be my burden, I wanted them to get an education. I had so many relying on me. I knew if I don't do things right, I was worried that my younger brother might lose focus at UJ or my lister sister who was studying electrical engineering.
"I knew that if I didn't do it for them, then no one else was going to. I had to help them get better education and also help my mom, build something for her back home. So, that's kept me grounded throughout my career, I know where I come from. It's hard where I came from, not many people make it out of there," shared Rama.
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