Mlambo Spills The Beans: I Was Stopped From Training With Wits

Xola Mlambo has revealed that he had difficulties in his career prior to leaving Bidvest Wits for Orlando Pirates.

Read: Pirates Confirm Mlambo Signing

Mlambo has been added to the Pirates squad, as one of the club’s mid-season acquisitions for Milutin Sredojevic’s team. The midfielder has already started training with his new team. 

In an interview with Pirates’ official website, Mlambo discussed some of the events that took place prior to his departure from Wits.

“There are a few faces in the team that I go back a long way with because of our collective past experiences. Mpho Makola is special, he is more of a brother than a teammate for me. When things were bad and I didn’t train for three weeks because I was stopped from training with Wits, he was there for me in what was an extremely frustrating time for me. We chatted all the time and he always advised me and kept me believing that I am a quality player and that things will work out,” Mlambo told Bucs’ official website. 

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The 26-year-old also thanked Bucs’ assistant coach Rhulani Mokwena for helping him ‘during those three weeks when I was on my own.’

“Coach Rhulani was instrumental in keeping me motivated and ensuring that I continue to train hard during those three weeks when I was on my own. We go way back, even before I turned professional. I started working with him before I left the reserve team of Mamelodi Sundowns to join Cape Town All Stars. 

Read – Mlambo On Bucs Training: I Learnt Different Things 

“It was also great to reunite with some of the players I have worked with in the past like Phetso Maphanga, we were together at the Sundowns junior ranks and at Cape Town All Stars. Diamond Thopola was my teammate at Chippa United and Thembinkosi Lorch was my teammate at Cape Town All Stars as well. It was great to see all the familiar faces because it made things easier for me from the word go. I feel like I’m part of the team as opposed to being fearful or isolated in a new environment,” the midfielder has been quoted as saying.