Mandla Zwane started his football career, the same as any other footballer in the dusty streets of Zola 2 in Soweto.He later on they moved from Zola to Mofolo also in Soweto, then why playing in the street,a guy by the name of Thulane who happened to be playing for Orlando Pirates juniors asked him if is playing for a team, His answer was no,then he invited him,to go to training with him .The answer was a resounding yes.He then started with Orlando Pirates under 14 from 1987 till was promoted to the senior team in 1993.He was also the first member of SA under 20 team which was coached by Augusto Palacios ,later on Shakes Mashaba.Regarding his coaching career ,began in 2011 as a Volunteer at UJ and he have been there till 2019.Currently he doesn’t have a team however ,he is looking around for it.The person influenced and inspired Mandla to became a footballer was his late Dad MHSRIP,who also played professionally for African Wanderers in the 70s,also by wanting to showcase his God given talent on the street not knowing that he will be playing football professionally.When he grew up ,his Dream was to play in Overseas of which it happened sooner than he thought, after turning pro in 1993,the following year 1994,He left SA for Portugal.Challenges, He faced said, challenges vary interms of how you should conduct yourself on and off the pitch ,the discipline, injuries, transfers from one club to another interms of acclimatising yourself to new environment culture of how things are done in the particular Club. The lessons he learned, is that you need to be a team player in all aspect of life,be tolerant disciplined,work ethic has to be Consistent at all times,willing to take instructions no matter how lousy you think it is because Certain Situations that happens in life they are somehow directly relevant to the one that you thought was not useful or irrelevant. Nation building cause you come across people from different places, countries and you develop a bond that later become friendship that last longer .Changes he would like to see in South African Football Development, He wants to see especially in development structures is that ,they should emphasize the winning mentality, especially in u/13 and 15,Rather teach the players technique/ball mastery (Basics).According to him,to play professional football is the ultimate for any aspiring footballer ,the feeling one can not describe it,it’s a sense of achievement and fulfillment of expressing yourself and of course to be famous comes with it.For him doesn’t see much difference between Current professional footballers and ex professional footballers, except that the current ones are playing and for his generation, they taken different paths,because of the state of their football, also others don’t want to be involve in the game that shaped their career paths.He highlighted ,for him to coach UJ in Varsity Cup made him to felt great though, it has its own challenges due to the fact that you only work with students that are enrolled for that institution, but it was nice,he learned a lot because he had to worry for 25 to 30 players that had potential.He also told us,standout players for his UJ Varsity Team was the following: Ayanda Nkosi -Maritzburg united/Orlando Pirates, Blessing Mngomezulu-Bloemfontein Celtic,Grant Brunchhausen-Highlands park,Karl Clemençe-Highlands park,Ruben de Freitas-Cape Town Santos,Mlungisi Mbunjane-Ts Galaxy, Given Msimango-Ts Galaxy, Shaune Mokete Mogaila-Ts Galaxy,Katlego Ntsabeleng-South Carolina U.S.A,Sihle Mbhele-Moroka Swallows, Neo Lebopa-Pele-Pele,Nkosinathi Sibiya-Pele-Pele,Pogiso Mabote -Pele-Pele,Tebogo Mandyu -Wits University ABC Motsepe, Oneil Hendricks-Wits University, Sihle Mbele-Kaizer Chiefs Mdc.In 3 years s’ time ,he wants to see himself coaching in Dstv Premier League or Glad Africa.Mandla told us ,his motivation comes from the fact that God has kept him alive to see another Day,Also the fact that he is doing something that he loves,by far the motivating factor to him.His family also they are behind and support him in his environment. Happily said about his favourite Mentor,Is none other than the African Champion Mr Pitso Mosimane,the Reason is simple,he was his coach for six years and what he learned from Him can not fit in the text.The manner in which he plans for training and matches ,and his analysis are spot on,he doesn’t leave anything behind. He is detailed, he s’ like the Germans Efficient. Regarding his encouraging words for upcoming youngsters, said to aspiring footballers, he would say Love Football, be Dedicated, Discipline, Honest,Respect Football, Because it will change your Family Situation like it did to him and thousands before, During and After his playing Days.Also said money is not everything but beware and careful on what you use it for,Don’t hang around with bad people who might influence your Decision that later will back fire Negatively in your Career.
Wm Football Development Online News would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Mandla Zwane For this Exclusive Online interview.
Check upcoming online interviews with professional ,ex professional etc
www.wmfootballdevevelopmentonlinenews.co.za 
Leave a comment