Alcohol and bad behaviour has robbed us of some of the most promising football careers. The sky was the limit for Dumisani Zuma who unfortunately had his career halted by alcohol and poor decision making.
Bad decisions ultimately led to his abrupt departure from a number of clubs including Kaizer Chiefs where he was allegedly caught under the influence of alcohol on several occasions and at Moroka Swallows, where he went AWOL and missed training for five days.
Zuma made his mark in the Premier Soccer League at Bloemfontein Celtic in the 2014/15 season, he played 20 league matches in his debut season and spent three years with Siwelele before moving to Kaizer Chiefs at the start of the 2017/18 season.
“When my contract was coming to an end at Celtic, we played Kaizer Chiefs in the MDC and Bobby Motaung liked what he saw. I also got the chance to play for Bafana Bafana & after doing well there also, I got the move to Kaizer Chiefs,” said Zuma to Sports Night Amplified with Andile.
“I cried the day that I signed for Kaizer Chiefs and before that, I hadn’t cried since my dad passed away.
He spent five seasons at Amakhosi making 103 appearances, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists. His career took a bad turn after he left Chiefs and joined AmaZulu for a season before he moved to Moroka Swallows, hoping to revive his career. However, his demons caught up with him as he was prematurely freed before the season ended.
He admitted to being caught under the influence of alcohol and being surrounded by too many friends as a contributing factor to his problems.
“And then at Kaizer Chiefs, a lot happened, I think maybe I had misbehaving problems. I don’t have any challenges with alcohol because at the club I was caught once being under the influence of alcohol.
“After that incident is where we agreed to mutually part ways. Even at the club they told me that they wanted me to see a psychologist and the psychologist told me that I don’t have problems. So, I appreciate everything they have done for me because at Chiefs they take you as their son, so now I take it as a man that if I want to change, it’s all on me, there is no one who can help except me.
“But I admit that having too many friends and going out a lot was a challenge for me and contributed to where I am now. The happiest moments and best memories I have, are of me playing football and right now I just want to play football again.”
Zuma bemoaned the loss of his parents at an early age as they could not see him making his professional debut. His mother passed away in 2010, he lost his father in 2012 and was left with his older brother who became his pillar of strength.
“When I joined Real Kings (now Royal AM) as a youngster, my mother had passed away already in 2010 and my father had passed away already in 2012. By that time, it was just my brother left as my support system, it wasn’t easy.
“Whenever I won the Man of the Match award and got money, I would use it to help my brother who had just had a baby. Fortunately for me, Coach Middendorp had enquired about a player with my style and that’s how I moved to Bloemfontein Celtic.
The former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder was last seen on the field on 8 May 2023, in the colours of Moroka Swallows in a 1-1 draw against Golden Arrows.
He is now a free agent and is open to any offers that will see him not only return to the field but also get his footballing career back on track.