Mabaso Loving Life
Under Khompela
After playing well
for Mpumalanga Black Aces while on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns last season,
Abel Mabaso has once again been loaned out to Maritzburg United. In his
interview with Soccer Betting News, Mabaso opens up about his move.
Personal Information
Full names: Ntuthuko Abel Mabaso
Date of birth: 15 May 1991
Place of birth: Durban
Nickname: Mshumbu
Position: Right back
Jersey no: 9
Club: Maritzburg United
Previous Clubs: Durban Metro Academy, Westville Utd Football Academy, M Tigers, Mamelodi Sundowns, Mpumalanga Black Aces(on loan),
Honours: 20 SA U2 caps
Ntuthuko, you
couldn`t face Mamelodi Sundowns in Maritzburg`s first league game because of
the loan agreement between the two clubs. How did it feel missing out that
game?
I didn’t mind, I`m just happy that I made the move to
Maritzburg United. The welcome that I got from everyone was great, and I`m
enjoying my stay so far. I grew up here in Durban, so it`s like I`m returning
back home and I`m enjoying being close to my family spending some years in
Gauteng. I would like to thank Maritzburg for giving me this opportunity to be
closer to me family.
Tell us about the
Maritzburg move. How did it happen?
Well, as you know, I returned to Sundowns after the
expiration of my loan deal with Aces. I was then called to the office and they
told me about the opportunity to come down here to play for Maritzburg and I
took it.
Why did you decide to
join Maritzburg and not stay and fight for your position at Downs?
Look, I have always wanted to play for coach Steve Khompela,
who for me is a great coach and a great person, so when the opportunity to play
for him presented itself, I couldn’t turn that chance down.
Many believe that
your move to Maritzburg was motivated by the fact that Sundowns wanted to
sweeten the deal that saw Rheece Evans and Mario Booysen joining the
Brazillians.
Well, I don`t know anything about that. All I know is that
my decision to join Maritzburg was motivated by the desire for coach Steve who
I believe is one of the greatest coaches in South African football. Nobody from
Sundowns has told me anything about the player exchange that you are talking
about. All I know is that Maritzburg wanted me and I wanted to play for them.
But, Able, you have
never played under Khompela before, so how did you draw the conclusion that he
is one of the greatest coaches in SA?
You are right. It`s actually my first time working under
him, but looking from a distance and hearing the praise that he has received
from the other clubs he has worked for and the players he has coached, it was
easy for me to make that decision. I listen to fellow footballers and I decided
that it was time for me to see if what has been said about him was true or not,
and I can safely say that he is indeed one of the best coaches in SA. Listening
to his input regarding my game has also given me the confidence that I`m in
good hands because I`m playing under a knowledgeable coach.
You worked with
former Bafana Bafana coach Clive Barker at Aces last season. How did you find
working under him, especially compared to working with Khompela?
I don`t like comparing coaches because each one has
different methods and philosophies so it`s going to be unfair for me to compare
them. For me I just take the positives
and the lessons that they teach me. These two coaches are completely different.
I learnt a lot from Clive Barker and I will always be grateful for the
opportunities he gave me at Aces last season, but I am a Maritzburg player and
my focus now is to try and do well for them and coach Steve.
After playing well at
Aces last season, many people thought that you would be retained by Sundowns
this season, but you were loaned out again.
To be honest, I was not really disappointed with Sundowns
decision to loan me out to Maritzburg because as my team, they have the right
to decide whether or not to keep me this season and they opted to send me to
Maritzburg. Look, this is football and anything can happen, so as a player you
have to be prepared for all eventualities, so I was prepared for anything.
How do you stay
positive when you are deemed surplus to requirements for a second time?
For me it`s part and parcel of football. Things like this
happen to a lot of footballers, not only for me. I see my move to Maritzburg as
a great opportunity for me to enjoy my football and to play under Steve. I`m
grateful to Maritzburg to play for them and hope that I will do well for the
whole season.
Do you think that you
will one day get another chance to prove yourself at Downs?
It`s a coach who is entitled to his choice, so if one day I
do get the chance to go back to Sundowns, I will take it, but if it doesn`t
come, I’ll move forward. I`m not here at Maritzburg to prove anyone wrong, I`m
here to play football.
Ntuthuko, thanks for
your time, all the best at the Team of Choice.
Thanks brother.