Former Mamelodi Sundowns forward Sibusiso Vilakazi has explained why he had two different shirt numbers during his time at Masandawana.
Vilakazi, 32, was announced as new TS Galaxy signing on Thursday, joining the club alongside Xola Mlambo, who was also unveiled.
Vila, as he’s affectionally known, made 138 appearances for Masandawana, scoring 29 goals and assisting another 21, helping them to lift five successive Premier Soccer League titles.
He started his Downs stint with the Nr.11 during his first three campaigns after joining in 2016, before switching to 24 in his last two campaigns.
“Wearing 11 was more of a childhood story,” he told Downs’ media team.
“I grew up wearing 11, so when I came here, and I felt like I should go back to it because it reminded me of me being a boy wearing number 11.”
Vilakazi also explained that he switched to 24 because he idolised former basketball superstar Kobe Bryant, who sadly passed away in January 2020.
“Then came a season where I felt like that I idolised Kobe Bryant, who passed on and then that’s when I felt maybe I should change that,” he added.
“I mean, try to bring that quickness on the field of play with his football, with something that I love. And not only then because with that 24 it was a transition of maybe from a boy to being a father, a man.
“That also kinda gave me the switch up with the number, but only then I realized that it can even do more, it can even put more powers on me to explore the side of greatness, unstoppable greatness and, of course, to achieve greatness and that mentality of never stopping, the mentality of winning titles back-to-back.”
