Kaizer Chiefs rising star Mfundo Vilakazi has spoken about his experiences with the senior team, the national setup, and his ambitions for the future.
The 18-year-old was recently promoted to the Amakhosi first team and acknowledged the pressure of representing one of South Africa’s biggest clubs.
Vilakazi has sat on the senior team bench three times this season, coming on late in the Soweto derby earlier this month. He also made one appearance in the Nedbank Cup as Chiefs crashed out of the tournament.
His promotion coincided with his Carling All-Star inclusion, where he was voted for by fans.
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“I’ve been part of the senior team. It’s a very big thing because playing for Kaizer Chiefs, I think everyone is watching you and how you behave. So you have to be humble,” he said, emphasising the importance of humility for a young player.
The youngster also recalled the nerves he felt before his Soweto Derby debut but revealed his determination to make a positive impact on the pitch. “It was [a dream come true] to play the Soweto Derby. During the pitch inspection, I was a little bit scared, but as the game went on, I felt if I entered [the pitch], I would be able to do something.”
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Vilakazi is now part of the junior national team and is enjoying the collaborative environment. “It’s my first time in the junior national team. I’m learning a lot because there are other players from other teams. We’re helping each other to improve every day,” he explained, highlighting the value of learning from teammates across different clubs.
He spoke fondly of his first experience with the national team, pinpointing a friendly match against M Tigers where he found the net. “The most exciting thing that’s happened so far was the friendly against M Tigers, and I scored,” he exclaimed. Vilakazi stressed his dedication to learning and contributing at the national and club levels.