When Richards Bay FC recently confirmed the signing of young forward Lundi Mahala, it marked the latest chapter in one of South African football’s most inspiring underdog stories – a journey that began in the small Eastern Cape town of Addo and has now reached the big stage of the Betway Premiership.
But Mahala’s path to the professional game has been anything but conventional.
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In an exclusive interview with Soccer Laduma, respected talent scout and community coach Mncedi Lali, who is the man credited with discovering Mahala, gave a touching account of how the player went from being a little-known goalkeeper in a local team to one of the most promising young forwards in the country.
“I’m more than a representative to him,” Lali explained. “I was his coach for our local team here in Addo in the Eastern Cape. When I first spotted Lundi, he was playing for another team here in Addo called Xhosa Royals. He was a goalkeeper.”
Born in Addo but raised in Kimberley under the care of his grandmother, Mahala would return to his hometown during school holidays. It was during one of these visits that Lali saw something special.
“He caught my eye with his talent while playing for Xhosa Royals, and I approached his coaches. They didn’t have a problem with that, knowing that I have talent in talent identification and the ability to nurture players to the next level,” Lali said.
And nurture him he did. The first step? A bold positional switch that would define Mahala’s career.
“When Richards Bay signed him, they signed him as a striker, because immediately after I started working with him, I converted him. I saw the potential in him to be a top striker rather than a goalkeeper.”
Mahala spent three crucial seasons with United Brothers, Lali’s team in the Hollywoodbets Regional League.
But the journey didn’t stop there. Lali loaned him out to Bush Pirates, a local side competing in the ABC Motsepe League, where he continued to sharpen his attacking instincts.
After just a handful of games, Mahala’s progress earned him a look-in at Highbury FC in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, although he never got a chance to feature in a competitive match.
Instead, destiny had other plans.
“He got an opportunity to travel to Durban to play in the Khabba Cup. He featured for a select Eastern Cape XI side and ended up being the Top Goal Scorer and Player of the Tournament after an impressive showing,” said Lali.
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It was at this tournament that Richards Bay FC spotted the young striker – a moment that would change his life.
“As they say, the rest is history,” concluded Lali.
Lali, known in the Eastern Cape football scene for his sharp eye and player development skills, has previously played a key role in the careers of talents such as Sonoxolo Kwayiba, Thobani Jacobs, and Simnikiwe Mbonde, among others.
