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Cape Town - Midfielder Tiyani Mabunda says it took him a lot of hard work to become a regular starter for Mamelodi Sundowns since making his breakthrough.
The midfield hard man says he sometimes feels that the players waiting for their chance on the bench are even better than those that play regularly for Pitso Mosimane side.
The 29-year old arrived at Chloorkop in 2013, joining from Black Leopards, but struggled to break into the first team before he was loaned out to Free State Stars.
However, the departure of Bongani Zungu to Portugal in 2016 opened the doors for Mabunda to cement his place in the starting line-up week in, and week out.
"To be a consistent starting eleven player at Sundowns carries a lot of pressure," he said. "Because you know the kind the kind of players we have at the club.
"There is very much exceptional players, I sometimes feel that we have players that are not playing, but even better than those playing.
"But it’s all about patience and waiting for the right moment that God will give you to take your position in the field. I’m just happy to be part of the magnificent team.”
Mabunda also sang praises of midfielder partner Hlompho Kekana, saying it’s an honour to be led by a player of his qualities.
"It’s really much an honour for me to be part of a team that is led by Kekana. He is an exceptional midfielder; he has been there and has been in and around the game.
"He has got a lot of experience that rubs off on us. We just keep on sucking out of his experience and it helps the team move forward.
"Just for me to be partnering with him you could have had anybody in that midfielder, you could have Oupa Manyisa, Lucky Mohomi.
"It’s a bouquet of players that you could have and just for me to be there is just by the grace of God.”
Meanwhile, Sundowns will be in action against Golden Arrows on Tuesday evening.
Kick-off is at 19:30.
