Khayelihle Shozi has fallen on hard times. Photo: Twitter
Brother of troubled Shozi calls for help: Nobody gave us money!
The brother of Khayelihle Shozi has said he never received any money to help assist the former Sundowns player who has been left destitute.
Khayelihle Shozi has fallen on hard times. Photo: Twitter
Note: This is an updated article on Shozi
The terribly sad situation facing Khayelihle Shozi recently came to light again this month after an image emerged which showed the once highly-regarded local football player still living on the streets.
It’s believed he was seen around the Vaal area, but the word on the ground suggests the exact whereabouts of the former Sundowns and TS Galaxy player are once again unclear.
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His brother Shwi Shozi appeared on a radio station this week and said he is heading to Gauteng to try and see what can be done to help his sibling, although he reiterated that assistance from the South African public was needed.
“It is so disappointing that people are making fun of this situation,” he is quoted as saying. “There’s nothing new on the situation, I thought I had explained everything as I said I needed help.
“Even now we are facing a similar situation as it was before, but I think the situation could have been prevented. Following the (previous) interviews I did, thereafter I never got any help except those who interviewed me. I’m on the way to Joburg to see what can I do.
“What is happening now is that people are turning away from us. I won’t deny that financially I never got helped. I’ve been trying to avoid that people are saying I received money from other bosses in football. It has never happened, nobody gave me money. With the situation we are facing now, we don’t know how are we going to overcome it. I think we need to remember that Khaya was not born in this situation, I need help from the people of South Africa!”
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Well-known ex-Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane also responded to the photo of the former player looking to be in a troubled state.
“Very sad to see this image. His combination with (Bafana star) Percy Tau was amazing. We even promoted him to the senior team ahead of Percy,” Mosimane posted on social media along with a heartbroken emoji. “He came through the same development program… Special talent!”
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A family spokesperson also told the ZiMoja publication how difficult it is for them to see the 28-year-old in that state.
“We have tried our level best to help. We will not give up,” he says. “It breaks our hearts to see him in this state. We are still trying to get him help where we can.”
At the beginning of last year, many will remember that numerous stories detailed how Shozi had gone missing towards the end of 2021, before finally being found by family members.
Various rumours had swirled around about what could have led Shozi astray, with talk ranging from “witchcraft” to “mental health issues” to an “emotional breakdown” after he was sent off in his last appearance for JDR Stars against Cape Town All Stars on 18 September 2021.
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Shozi, who graduated through the academy at Sundowns and began training with the first team under the direction of Mosimane and his technical team during the 2015/16 season, faced an uncertain future after eventually being found in the Johannesburg CBD.
At that time, numerous parties suggested they would look to offer him whatever support was needed, while Shozi even appeared to be training on his own with the help of an unknown fitness trainer at one point in early 2022.
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Pitso Mosimane shared the following message about Shozi
Last year, Shozi’s brother Simphiwe had issued a warning to others in South African football after seeing the struggles of his sibling.
“To all South African soccer players, this is a wake-up call. They must be aware about clubs and agents … they don’t care about them, they only want them when it is time to negotiate their transfers and salaries.”
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The midfielder was once regarded as a highly promising player
Shozi started his career off at Sundowns where he was promoted to the first team following his impressive displays while on the club’s Diski Challenge team.
He would then play for TS Galaxy and JDR Stars before he fell on hard times.
