Kaizer Chiefs star has confirmed Arthur Zwane used to bench him at Training

MABILISO CONTINUED hard and that I’d get my chance to play. He’d been giving me a chance as a substitute here and there and was promising me of more. MQ: Training and not playing…

SM: Vele bekub’hlungu (Of course, it was painful), but I tried to remain strong about it at all times to avoid ending up doing wrong things be- cause of frustration. I was always positive about going to training and always made sure that I worked hard, even though I was not playing- ing. Mine was to always give my all at training and I didn’t focus on anything else.

I always kept myself motivated by telling myself that there are millions of people who play soccer but did not get the opportunities of playing at pro level and I’m in a better position because I got that chance. The only responsibility I have is to always work hard now that I’ve got the opportunity to play at the highest level in Mzansi. MQ: After Baxter was replaced by Arthur Zwane, one would have thought that you’d want to stay on and compete.

SM: I did not think about that one and all that was on my mind was to work hard, and whether it was under coach Baxter or Zwane wasn’t the issue with me. But as a player, you can also see when things aren’t going to change for you and for me, it was clear to see, even at training, if I would be part of the plans or not. MQ: What do you mean?

SM: Sometimes when we played friendlies or even at training when we played 11 v 11, it wasn’t difficult to see. MQ: Are you saying you didn’t make the 11 in both teams when you played against each other in training? I’d sit outside even in those matches and maybe I’d come in later during the game or session. I’d watch as guys like Reeve (Frosler), Happy (Mashiane) and Choppa (Sifiso Hlanti) played. MQ: Overall, how was your time with Chiefs? SM: It was great and I enjoyed it. I had a good time with Chiefs and, as we all know, Chiefs is a big club and it’s just that it wasn’t easy because of my lack of game-time.

Chiefs is a professional club and I managed to learn from every one of the people I interacted with at the club. One of the most important things I learnt at the club was that as a player, you have to always think about the brand of the club in whatever you do and how you conduct yourself.

It is never about you as an individual but the Chiefs brand. But I can’t come here and tell you that my stay with the club was bad or anything like that because that wasn’t the case. It was great, and my only con cern was lack of game-time. Everything else was top! MQ: It should be mentioned, Sbuda, that the professional manner in which you handled yourself under the circumstances was com mendable and you represented the Chiefs brand well. SM: Yinto ebengiyifuna leyo (That’s what I wanted), and that’s why I always worked hard even though I wasn’t playing. I didn’t want to do any negative things. MQ: Disappointed?

SM: Yes, I am disappointed, but impilo iyaqhubeka (life goes on), grootman lam. What else can we do? I’d like to thank the supporters for their love and support. Since day one, they welcomed me well and I’ll always be grateful to them. I’ll forever be grateful to AmaZulu supporters as well for their love and support and I’ll do everything to make them happy.

SM: No, I would get a chance to play in those training matches, but sometimes ngibuye ngithi (I would success. then say), “No, man, I’m not part of the plans.” The thing is sometimes man