Royal AM rising midfielder Sphiwe Cele has come from hard times to reach South African top-flight football.
Cele, whom the banner of Royal AM has afforded the space to shine, grew up playing ‘stakes football’ in the township, and he would then give the prize money he would get when they won those tournaments to his mother to provide for at home.
“I grew up playing tournaments in Ekasi because I had no team,” said Cele to iDiski Times.
“At home, no one was and is working. The money I used to get would help at home. Sometimes I would get R5000 or R6000.
“Whenever I’m out at home, the first thing that I had in my mind was to ensure that I get either R4000 when I have left the house, and that was my aim all the time, or R2000.
“But when we have won those tournaments, I would get R6000.”
Cele has provided a good spark at this Royal AM side crying for new players, scoring twice thus far for the club, along with two assists.
“The confidence you see comes from the training,” said Cele.
“My teammates always push me and when it comes to the games, it comes natural.”
The way the goals were scored by Cele against Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC were top-notch, but unfortunately, the club lost on both occasions.
But Cele appeared to be someone who has been in the game for a long time.
He cut inside against Pirates at Orlando Stadium when Royal AM threatened to come back, before rifling in the shot at the far post which was assisted by a deflection to loop in the air as they lost 4-2 in August.
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For the goal against Stellies at Harry Gwala Stadium, also last month, he glided past many players, who were left falling off and not getting into him, complementing that with confident control on the ball, before stroking it in at the far corner as they lost 3-1.
“My coach (John Maduka) has told me to shoot whenever I have the ball but he doesn’t want me to run with it,” he said.
“But he is happy when I have scored. It is what I always think about.”
Incredibly, Cele’s style of play appears to be similar to that of Kabelo Mahlasela, his club teammate, who he said he idolised growing up.
“Mahlasela,” said Cele without hesitation.
“He is really my role model even when I’m at training. But abroad it is Bernardo Silva (of Manchester City even though we don’t play the same way because he is more out wide on the left), but he is my role model.”
Ultimately, the end goal for Cele will be to play abroad but did not say which club or league.
“I’m not in a rush, but I want to go abroad,” said Cele, who clearly embodies the player who is short and quick not only on the field and his body stature but also when he replies.
“But I want to score 10 goals this season.”
Royal AM lost again this past weekend, going down 1-0 to Polokwane City, and find themselves in 12th position with eight points after eight games.
