Mamelodi Sundowns’ Zuko Mdunyelwa expressed his pride in achieving his first caps for Bafana Bafana in their recent FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking at the Carling Black Label Knockout Cup launch on Monday, Mdunyelwa reflected on his first camp and appearances for the South African national side, calling the experience a dream come true.
“I think every football player’s dream is to represent their nation. So when the opportunity came that I should represent my nation, I took it with both hands because I know what it means from a boy that’s coming from a township to be on a platform where you get an opportunity to represent your nation. It’s representing all the boys that are coming from Ekasi, all the boys that are coming from rural areas that don’t believe this thing is possible,” he said.
Mdunyelwa came off the bench in the sixth minute of Bafana Bafana’s clash with Lesotho at the Free State Stadium after an early injury to Nyiko Mobbie at right-back, earning his first appearance for his country.
The 26-year-old impressed with his performance, earning praise from coach Hugo Broos in the post-match press conference.
“When you have to come in like Zuko […] it’s not easy, certainly not for your first game, but he did it very well. And I was confident the moment he had to come in, because what I saw in training gave me confidence,” said Broos.
He was placed in the starting line-up against Nigeria in Bafana Bafana’s following game but was forced off in the 63rd minute due to injury, which he is still recovering from.
Mdunyelwa stated that he did not find the gap between South Africa’s domestic competition and the international level to be too much of a jump, given the level of talent in Betway Premiership and within Mamelodi Sundowns.
“It’s not a huge step, considering the players that I’m competing with at club level because they are international players, a lot of international players. So when you chat with them and you have a conversation with them, you get to have the feeling how it is to be there. So when you get there, it’s not a surprise,” he said.
