Kaizer Chiefs central defender, Tefu Mashamaite, had a below-average first season at the club in 2011/12 after arriving from Wits. It appeared the player had been bought to add depth to the squad, rather than to be a regular starting defender in the first-11. After the arrival of Morgan Gould and Eric Mathoho at the start of the 2012/13 campaign, it seemed his future at Naturena was going to be extremely uncertain. However, the 29-year-old has since risen to the challenge and become an established starter in Stuart Baxters team. So dominant has the Limpopo-born player been, he has left the likes of Mathoho and Gould to fight for the one other central defensive berth in the heart of the back four. It has been a inspiring run of form for Mashamaite and it still surprises many that he doesnt have a single Bafana Bafana cap to his name as well. Nonetheless, the tough-tackling number 23 has explained how he managed to overcome adversity to really establish himself at the Glamour Boys. Speaking in edition 876, he said, I think it was better to have an unsuccesful first season than an unsuccesful second season....For me, it has been a process and I have been improving with each and every game...Football is about confidence - if you have someone who believes in you and is willing to give you a chance then you will improve. For me that has been the coach, Stuart Baxter. He gave me the freedom to express myself in a manner that reflects a collective effort. The relationship between the player and the coach can be vital. . . .#MJ_wa_lekhosi
Posted on: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:14:25 +0000
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