Meet the youngest Midrand football chairperson
Local football chairperson Sthembiso Buthelezi fell in love with football when he owned a team as a teenager.
The Midrand Local Football Association (MLFA) chairperson Sthembiso Buthelezi says he has settled well in the hot seat as he was marking his first two weeks in office on May 9.
Buthelezi (31) becomes the youngest chairperson ever to be on the throne and the second since the association’s inception in 2006.
Born in KwaZulu-Natal and currently living in Ivory Park, Midrand, Buthelezi fell in love with soccer at the tender age of 14 when he had a team called Sporting FC.
“After moving to Gauteng from KZN, I decided to start a new team again called Real Midrand FC on May 20, 2007, when I was in Grade 10. Shortly after that, as a team we decided to join Spoilers FC which had been promoted to SAFA JHB Regional League,” said Buthelezi.
A teacher by profession, he teaches Foundation Phase physical education at Kyalami Preparatory School, as well as Grade 5 and 6 Isizulu with other Isizulu teachers.
Buthelezi is also in possession of a CAF C Licence, SAFA Refereeing Level 2 and qualification in sports management.
“Now I am involved in Indlovu FC that is plying their trade in Midrand LFA as head of marketing for the team. I make sure that the team is well represented and well known in the football fraternity”.
The father of two girls says he spends most of his free time watching the news and the parliament channel because he loves politics and listening to gospel music because he is a firm Christian believer.
Buthelezi said when growing up, he looked up to renowned and most decorated football manager Jose Mourinho, who is known for his tactical knack and speaking his mind, but now he draws inspiration from CAF president and business tycoon Patrice Mostepe.
When asked how his first two weeks in office have been, he said it was ‘hectic, especially, with the hand-over and building a new executive in the MLFA and sub-committees.
He concluded that, without undermining the work done by the previous leaders of the association, there is a lot that needs to be done and although he still young, his biggest wish is to build a better MLFA.
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