Bafana Bafana forward Mihlali Mayambela has revealed why he snubbed DStv Premiership giants Kaizer Chiefs.
The move would have brought Mayambela back to South Africa after leaving for Europe as a teenager.
The Bafana forward, whose goal secured qualification for the AFCON recently, has opened up on why he turned down Amakhosi.
He was on target in the 2-1 win over Liberia in Monrovia, which sealed Bafana’s place at the next edition of the tournament.
“Yes, but it was not only Chiefs. I had many other options from different countries, but I had to make a decision at the end of the day,” Mayambela was quoted by iDiski Times.
The 26-year-old opted to join Aris Limassol in Cyprus, where he says he is enjoying his career.
“I had to go with my gut, not with anybody else, not with my brother’s heart or with my mom’s heart or anybody but what I wanted at the time, and the opportunity came to go to Cyprus.”
Mayambela, young brother to former Orlando Pirates winger Mark Mayambela, says he had been recommended by Sinesipho Mali, formerly Chiefs scout and analyst.
He said he heard about their interest from his brother, who now serves as a youth coach at Cape Town City.
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“I was not in contact with them because that’s not how I deal. I don’t speak to the clubs or the members of the club. They talk to my agent, and it ended there.
“That’s when I decided to move to where I’m at. It was a good decision because I reached my dream to be in the national team, and this is the most important thing now.”
Limassol are second in the Cypriot topflight, having amassed 60 points from 29 games. Log leaders APOEL are just two points ahead of them after the same number of games.
The Cape Town-born star hopes to make the final Bafana squad representing the country at next year’s AFCON in Ivory Coast.