How Teko Modise changed Tiyani Mabunda’s life

Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Tiyani Mabunda has opened up on how Teko Modise changed his life.

The retired star, Modise, now a football pundit and businessman, was one of the best talents to ever play in the DStv Premiership.

Modise’s breakthrough season in the Premiership was with SuperSport United during the 2006/07 season.

The Navigator, as he was famously known, left SuperSport in 2007 to join Orlando Pirates, and he later left Pirates for Mamelodi Sundowns in 2011.

Modise went on to win a handful of trophies with Sundowns including CAF Champions League in 2016 under the guidance of Pitso Mosimane.

Having established himself as one of the household names in South African football, representing Bafana Bafana during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Modise had a positive influence on Mabunda when they were teammates at Sundowns.

MABUNDA OPEN UP ABOUT A ROLE PLAYED BY MODISE IN HIS CAREER

“Teko Modise was such a pillar for me in my football career,” Mabunda told Andile Ncube on Metro FM.

“I was one of his fans and his story inspired me. He [Modise] said after seeing me play, he was ready to leave Sundowns.

“To hear my role model say that was so inspiring, and I did not want to let him down,” added Mabunda.

Mabunda, who made over 140 appearances for Sundowns in all competitions, has since retired from football and assumed the role of being a Club Ambassador.

Meanwhile, Sundowns produced a masterclass on Saturday evening to beat CR Belouizdad 4-1 in the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final clash at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers.

The impressive victory saw Rulani Mokwena’s troops end their four-match winless run in all competitions.

With one foot in the Champions League semis, Sundowns will host CR Belouizdad in the return leg on Saturday, 29 April 2023.

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