Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Luyolo Nomandela has opened up about his dream to play for Kaizer Chiefs.
Following an impressive start to his professional career with Free State Stars where he had a great two seasons between 2012 and 2014, Nomandela earned a big move to Sundowns under the club's former coach Pitso Mosimane although things didn't work out as planned for the Ngqeleni-born player.
The 32-year-old struggled for game-time at the Brazilians and was loaned to Moroka Swallows and Jomo Cosmos respectively before he parted ways with the Chloorkop outfit in 2016.
Mayano, as Nomandela is known in football circles, previously also had stints with Cape Town City and Chippa United and is currently on course to revive his career and eyeing a move back to the topflight, after spending time playing in the lower divisions in recent seasons.
Speaking to the Siya crew, Nomandela confirmed that it was his wish to join Chiefs when he was at the prime of his career before Downs lured him to Chloorkop in 2014.
"Look, I don't regret going to Sundowns because no player wakes up in the morning and just goes to Sundowns. I went to the club because coach Pitso wanted me there and had intentions to play me, but unfortunately it wasn't to be due to injuries. Sundowns is one of the best teams in South Africa and why would I regret joining such a club? The move was not rushed and didn't happen overnight, and I was given a chance to think about it before I made my decision. Even if I didn't play that much at Sundowns, I learnt so much at the club and I gained a lot of experience. I got to travel with the team to Africa and got to experience a lot of things and that's the experience I give back to the younger ones even if I play in the Vodacom (ABC Motsepe) League," said Nomandela.
"I always get a lot of people asking me why I chose Sundowns when I left Free State Stars and I always tell them that as a player you go where you are wanted. The fact is that coach Pitso wanted me and there was no way that I would have gone to Kaizer Chiefs when the club didn't say they wanted me. Yes, I had a wish to play for Chiefs, but I wouldn't have gone there without being asked to come and I had to go where I was wanted. I wanted to play for Chiefs and that was my wish, but I was happy to join Sundowns which is a club that is in the same level as Chiefs," he concluded.
