Keletso Makgalwa talks about his difficult time with Mamelodi Sundowns! | OneFootball

The current Sekhukhune United player talks about his difficult experience with the Brazilians.

Keletso Makgalwa talks about his difficult time with Mamelodi Sundowns!

For Sekhukhune United's Keletso Makgalwa, the path from a promising talent at Mamelodi Sundowns to rediscovering his form has been a tale of resilience, with persistent injuries being the central antagonist in his story.

The winger, who has recently re-emerged as a highly-rated attacker, has opened up about the challenges that hampered his time with the Brazilians. Having risen through the Sundowns academy and promoted to the first team by Pitso Mosimane, Makgalwa's journey initially seemed destined for stardom. However, his role was largely confined to that of an impact player, with the majority of his appearances coming from the bench, leading to loan spells at clubs like TS Galaxy and Moroka Swallows in search of consistent playing time.

Reflecting on his journey at a Bafana Bafana press conference, Makgalwa pinpointed the single biggest obstacle that disrupted his momentum at Chloorkop.

“I think I started my career very well as a young boy from the Sundowns academy, I played the Under-20 FIFA World Cup, and I also played the U-23 AFCON,” Makgalwa said, recalling his promising beginnings.

He described a career trajectory that was abruptly altered, not by a lack of opportunity or skill, but by physical misfortune. “So I think it was a great journey, and you know, sometimes there are injuries in football. That’s where I struggled with so many injuries, especially after winning the treble with coach Pitso before he left.”

According to the Limpopo-born player, this was the pivotal point where his path diverged. “I think everything was going well, but there were too many setbacks after that, so that’s where I even went on loan to seek some game time somewhere.”

Yet, despite the setbacks, Makgalwa looks back on his Sundowns chapter without bitterness, concluding, “To be honest, I think I had a great journey; it was just injuries that held me back.” His story now continues at Sekhukhune United, where he is finally showcasing the potential that was once slowed by those physical setbacks.