Share

Bibo: My son kept me away from drugs

Cape Town - Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Thandani Ntshumayelo has revealed that his son helped him stay away from drugs during his ban for cocaine use.

Ntshumayelo was banned from the game in 2016 after testing positive which saw him handed a four-year suspension.

At the time 'Bibo' saw his contract with the Sea Robbers terminated and it appeared his career as a player was largely over.

Nonetheless, after an appeal earlier this week to the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport proved a success, he is now free to resume playing should clubs be interested in his services.

"For two or three months without a salary I felt it, so it was not easy. My father was helping me and some of my friends were there for me financially. I'm thankful,” said Ntshumayelo, according to SowetanLIVE website.

"But some of the things I had to let go because I couldn't pay for them [including a Mercedes-Benz CLA]. This had a big [negative] impact on my life and you must remember that when it happened, my son had just been born.

"I wanted to give him better opportunities and take care of him, but I couldn't provide for him. It was one of the reasons that made me change my life.

"I made a mistake in my life and he was not there. I was obviously selfish and was just thinking about myself. Maybe if he wasn't born, I would have carried on with the drugs and gave up."

Now 28, Ntshumayelo has the chance to revive his career and might be back in training with a Premier Soccer League team as early as next week, although the midfielder declined to reveal the three clubs who are apparently interested in him.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1271 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1469 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2240 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE