Rising star Takalani Mazhamba aims to build on impressive Kaizer Chiefs debut

The 18-year-old was handed his first team debut by Chiefs co-head coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef for the club’s final match of the 2025/26 season, with third place on the standings already secured.

A number of young players were given the chance to impressed by the co-coaches, and there were a number of positives to take from the tie, despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to Chippa United.

Sammy Seabi scored the only goal of the game at the Moses Mabhida Stadium – to secure their top-flight status for next season.

Speaking after the game, the talented young shotstopper said he was happy with his performance and hopes to fight for a place in the matchday squad going forward.

“I joined Kaizer Chiefs when I was 13 and today I made my debut for the senior team,” Mazhamba told the Kaizer Chiefs website.

“To be honest, I am so happy and grateful. I really appreciate the opportunity that the Kaizer Chiefs Family have given me.

READ: Kaizer Chiefs co-head coach Cedric Kaze faces uncertain future

“Training with the First Team has been a great benefit for me. I have learned a lot from the likes of Brandon Petersen, Bruce Bvuma and Fiacre Ntwari, who have all been teaching me, giving me little tips to improve my goalkeeping.

“When I was told I would start I was a bit nervous, this being my first call to step onto the big stage. I thought to myself that I have been doing this for seven years and it’s just another match and I must produce my A-game.

“The cheers I got from the supporters when I took to the field immediately gave me confidence to think, ‘Boy, you can do this, the fans are with you. Just play your game and enjoy it’.

“No goalkeeper accepts conceding goals so I am not happy with that,” added Mazhamba. “But we take it, we grow from it and keep moving forward from there.

“My ambition is to play more next season. In the off-season I’ll be supporting Bafana Bafana in the World Cup and then look forward to training hard in pre-season.”