Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Thapelo Maseko opened up about his ongoing struggles at the club, resulting in fans expressing concern over the youngster.
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The story
Thapelo Maseko took to Instagram on Sunday to talk about his career being at a crossroads.
The Masandawana young attacker, who joined the side from SuperSport United (now Siwelele FC) in July 2023, has faced limited playing time on the pitch.
The 21-year-old made only 14 appearances across all competitions for the defending Betway Premiership champions last season and was left out of the FIFA Club World Cup squad.
Now, he has used social media to share his emotional struggles and express how his passion for football has started to fade.
In a lengthy message shared on his IG story, Maseko detailed how he's beginning to lose hope and how he feels unseen despite his hard work.
"I don't even know when it started, but lately, it's like the fire in me is fading. I still train like my life depends on it, still push through every tired muscle, every mental battle, it feels empty," shared Maseko.
"The game that once lit up my soul now feels different, heavier, colder. It's a strange kind of pain, giving everything you have yet feeling unseen.
"You tell yourself to keep going, but each day chips away at you, your confidence starts to crumble, your joy fades, and the person you used to be feels like a memory you can’t reach anymore.
"The hunger, the excitement, the love for the grind, they've all been slipping away piece by piece. Now, hope feels like something far off in the distance, and I’m left wondering if I'll ever get back to that place again.
"This is what it's like to lose your spark, and the hardest part? Still showing up every single day, praying you'll find it again," concluded Maseko.
On the Twitter/X timeline, a host of supporters, both Sundowns and non-Sundowns fans, showed empathy for the Bafana Bafana international, who lit up the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a goal against Namibia in the group stages.
Here's how fans reacted to Maseko's message:
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