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Former AmaZulu defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele has opened up about his shock of learning he was not part of the club’s plans for the new season, despite coach Arthur Zwane expressing a desire to keep him.
The 35-year-old joined Usuthu on a free transfer after leaving Kaizer Chiefs three years ago, while Zwane was still in charge at Amakhosi at the time.
Mphahlele, who featured 17 times for AmaZulu in the previous campaign – many of those as captain, shared on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified with host Andile Ncube how he was blindsided by the decision.
"I was also kind of surprised because we had a conversation with the director of football at AmaZulu [Dias], and I remember it was after the [Orlando] Pirates game, in which we did so well – I think I assisted [Tshepang Moremi with the goal he scored," noted Mphahlele.
"Besides the assist, we had a very good game, and on the Monday I got a call that I should come to the office [because] they want to talk to me regarding the way forward, which we had spoken before about and there were plans to continue.
"The funny thing is, on my way to the office, I usually play a lot of music so I turned off my music and I was like, 'Maybe I should just open a room for things to happen in a different way,' because for me, the meeting in my head was, 'We're going to take your option and continue one more season as discussed.'
"But there was nothing on paper, but we did discuss it during the season, so... But I was like, 'No man, just open a little bit of room so if something happens then it doesn't hit you so hard.'
"You know when someone punches you from the back, it's kinda like [that]. I think that helped me because when I got to the office, the meeting took like almost five minutes, [it was said], 'We're not going to take your option.'"
Mphahlele, who recently featured for Molefi Ntseki's Bafana Bafana side at the ongoing CHAN, says sporting director Pedro Dias did offer him a different role within the club, but he immediately turned that down.
"The director of sport said, 'I think you are done, as a player, with us.' This is exactly what he said. And I'm like, 'No man, don't put it like that. You don't tell me when I'm done.'
"But then they offered me a position in the club, but I made it clear before the meeting that I want to continue playing. He thinks, as a player, I can't help the team anymore, but I can help the team in other positions within the club."
