Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - Siyanda Xulu does not hold a grudge against Kaizer Chiefs. The 25-year-old had a nightmare stay at Naturena in his two years at Chiefs, where he only managed 10 appearances.
After those stressful years, the centre-back has now been given the opportunity to reignite his career at Maritzburg United. He has signed a three-year contract with the KwaZulu-Natal outfit and returns to his home province after years in Gauteng and Russia.
His last two years in Gauteng, however, were an ordeal, but he says he has already put them behind him. He says he has no hard feelings for what happened to him at Amakhosi.
“The past two seasons were a disappointment for me. Coming back from overseas after having learnt so much there, I was hoping I would use that knowledge to my advantage. But it didn’t go my way, and being overlooked at Chiefs is not something I can blame on someone. At the same time, I don’t want to dwell on what happened there. I hold no grudge, no hard feelings. Personally, I think I joined the right team at the wrong time.”
The KwaMashu-born player said he was ready to resuscitate his career at United. The Team of Choice is the first KwaZulu-Natal team Xulu will be playing for since he burst onto the professional scene at Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2009/10 season.
He said: “I’m one player who believes in himself. I trust my abilities and, given a fair chance, I will be able to compete. Chiefs is the past, now I’m a Maritzburg United player and I’m looking to work hard for my place. In no time I will be back to my best. I’m happy to be here, back home.”
At Sundowns, he made 80 starts and was able to get a Bafana Bafana call-up in 2012. His form that year prompted a move to FC Rostov in the Russian Premier League‚ where he spent three seasons before returning to South Africa and joined Chiefs.
