Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine has opened up about his remarkable journey through South African football, reflecting on the challenges he faced as he worked his way up from being considered second-best to becoming a key player for one of the country's biggest clubs.
Chaine's career began at Bloemfontein Celtic in 2013, where he initially struggled to secure a starting spot.
From Celtic to Royal AM to Chippa United, he spent much of his early career waiting in the shadows, often playing second fiddle to other goalkeepers. Despite the setbacks, Chaine maintained his faith and continued to push forward, believing there was a bigger plan for him.
"For me, I have a different perspective on how I see it. Since 2013, throughout my goalkeeping career, I've always been second best, honestly speaking," Chaine reflected. "I don't know how God maneuvered this journey, but I've always trusted in Him. Looking back to when I broke into the Diski Challenge when it started, I've always been second best. Even going to the PSL, I've always been number two or three," he told journalists at the post match press conference.
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Chaine's fortunes took a turn in 2022 when he was signed by Orlando Pirates as a backup goalkeeper. Initially, it seemed like just another step in his career as he waited for his opportunity. But when he finally got his chance, Chaine seized it with both hands, quickly establishing himself as one of the club's key players.
"For God to use a platform like Orlando Pirates to make me play for the club for two years, I think it's something that could be seen as near impossible because I've never been entrusted with that position," Chaine said. "For me to be here today in this position is by the grace of God. I could never say it's myself because I've never been in that position. I always work on myself to be better, to push."
Chaine's hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. His standout performances for Pirates earned him a call-up to the national team setup, a significant milestone in his career.
Recently, he was also voted as the captain of the Carling All-Star team, which triumphed 3-0 over Magesi in the exhibition match.
"I'm the captain of the Carling All-Star team, but what can I do better?" Chaine asked, always striving for improvement despite his achievements.
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