Introducing: Thando Buthelezi

Meet Thando Buthelezi.

A Teko Modise fan who also has a soft spot for Percy Tau and Themba Zwane – all players with a deep connection to Mamelodi Sundowns.

Buthelezi, 17, now also gets to live his dream as an academy player for Masandawana and his long-term personal target is to rub shoulders with ‘Mshishi’, captain Hlompho Kekana, Andile Jali and Thapelo Morena.

“I am from Thokoza and I joined Sundowns after I came for trials in 2015 and then joined a Sunday programme, then a year later that’s when I started playing for the academy,” says Buthelezi as he recalls his story.

Might be a bit cliché, but it almost sounds like he was ready to play football as soon as he could walk considering how early he picked his favourite position.

“I decided I want to be an attacking central midfielder when I was eight years old,” the youngster adds, “but at that time I wasn’t sure if the position would suit me”.

Buthelezi has his hands full juggling between being a footballer for the record Premier Soccer League topflight championship title holders and still being in school.

“To be honest it’s really the toughest thing to do, but because that is what I need to go through to be the best thing in life, I will have to find the balance. It’s all about paying attention in both school and football,” he says.

While still hoping to graduate like many of the former Sundowns academy players before him, Buthelezi continues to earn his stripes in the Multichoice Diski Challenge team.

“My toughest game so far was against Kaizer Chiefs and we won 4-3. That was my second match, so I was expected to be on my best form because the team was doing so well. I want to win the MDC league and the Shield tournament, and then obviously breakthrough to the first team,” Buthelezi shares his lofty ambitions.

“And I would like to play in the CAF Champions League one day and obviously help the team bring another star home. I hope to play with Themba Zwane, Andile Jali, Thapelo Morena and obviously our skipper, Hlompho Kekana, because he has a wealth of experience.”