Mashaba feels at home at Chippa

Yet while he won the league and collected a couple of medals from cup success, his stay at Chloorkop was not all that glorious. Reports have suggested that his off-the-pitch life played a huge part in him not getting game time and the final straw was when he substituted himself in a match against Baroka FC in 2017. He did not turn out for the second-half and he was suspended for that and released by the club shortly after.

That period of his life caused him a lot of heartbreak, so much so that he does not want to talk about it at all. He compares it to how unnecessary it is to speak about the heartbreak of a previous relationship when you are trying to enjoy the love of the new one. He is at Chippa United now where he has played six games this season, kicking a ball for the first time since mid-2017.

“People from Chippa United would not appreciate me commenting about Sundowns because now I am currently employed here. It would not be a good thing,” said Mashaba.

“It is great (to be playing again). I have been missing out on a lot sitting at home with that long term injury (Achilles tendon) seeing that I have potential and a lot to give to South African football. It was a big setback with the injury that I had because it was a bad one but I still believe that I can make it and still play for Bafana Bafana, I have still got a lot to offer to South African football before I retire,” he added.

He opened up a bit about his injury that kept him on the sidelines for a lengthy period.

“It was frustrating because you know your potential and a lot of people know what you can do and provide, but you are sitting at home and you cannot do anything and you have to let it heal by itself and do the rehabilitation properly. It took a lot from me and it stressed me out. After two months (of the injury) I just decided to sit back and let God do the work and then I will come back,” he said.

Mashaba said when he arrived at Chippa, he was not given preferential treatment because of the stardom that he once enjoyed when he was on the Sundowns and Bidvest Wits books. However, he does miss the limelight and challenging for championships in contrast to fighting relegation with the Chilli Boys who are rock-bottom on the Absa Premiership standings.

“The reception was very good when I got here, it was not like the team treated me like a superior player because of where I came from. I got a warm reception and everybody welcomed me with open arms. I would love to go back and play for a top team because it is a bit easier to do things and everything just falls into place. Take nothing away from our team, we also have got star players but I would like to go back to a top team and go back to play for Bafana Bafana because we do not have a lot of left-footed players in the country. I also wish to stay injury-free because the injuries are frustrating.

“The good thing about me is that giving up is not in my vocabulary, I never give up. I have an injury right now but I am not going to give up,” said Mashaba, who describes himself as a utility player, refusing to limit himself to only one position.

“I am like a bandage, wherever you need me you can wrap me around and I can deliver. I do not have a favourite position to play because wherever I play I excel. As long as I am on the pitch I will deliver because I am professional and I know that there are different instructions for different positions and I know how to conduct myself. If they say play at left-back I know what to do and when they say play in midfield or behind the strikers, I know what to do because I have been in the game for long and positions do not really matter.”

Mashaba sounds confident that Norman Mapeza can guide Chippa to safer climes before the league goes for the holiday recess in December.

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