Darrel Matsheke reveals he nearly quit football following struggles at Kaizer Chiefs. Image Source: (@StellenboschFC/Instagram)
Former Kaizer Chiefs star nearly walked away from football
Former Kaizer Chiefs star Darrel Matsheke has revealed how close he was to quitting football, but for his mother.
Darrel Matsheke reveals he nearly quit football following struggles at Kaizer Chiefs. Image Source: (@StellenboschFC/Instagram)
Kaizer Chiefs academy graduate Darrel Matsheke nearly quit football before Stellenbosch offered him a timely lifeline.
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Matsheke nearly walked away from football
24-year-old Darrel Matsheke, who joined Stellenbosch in October, scored the winning penalty to steer Stellies to Carling Knockout glory at the weekend. He nearly walked away from the sport but it was his mother who encouraged him to keep believing.
“It was really hard, at some point I wanted to call it quits, but I’d like to thank my Mom actually because she really encouraged me not to give up pushing, [saying] that one team or call would definitely come, and it did – at the right time, actually,” revealed Matsheke.
Matsheke was part of the first team at Chiefs when Gavin Hunt was still in charge. He made 12 appearances in his debut campaign – including the CAF Champions League when Amakhosi went all the way to the final. He almost joined Casric Stars before Stellenbosch came in for his signature.
“I was supposed to sign with Casric, but then I got a call from Stellenbosch… That call really changed my life, I could say. I was like an hour away from signing with Casric Stars,” he added.
“I had to take the risk because, first of all, the money. Obviously, at Casric I would have to earn less than what I earn here, so that triggered me to work hard.
“[And because of] the change of environment, I had to leave my family, my daughter, and come work here, so I couldn’t let them down.”
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“I’ve heard that a lot [credit for beautiful football],” Malesela said on Metro FM.
“Even one time I went to a Chiefs game, before the match, everybody was saying: ‘Hey coach, we heard the news that you are coming to Chiefs and then Chiefs won 3-0’ and they didn’t say anything afterwards.
“I don’t want to disrespect my club.
“But any team that is good and that has resources like Kaizer Chiefs, everybody would want to coach there. I don’t want to disrespect my club, I have a contract with them,” the former Sundowns star concluded.
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