Luvuyo Memela says he’s slowly getting back to his usual best at Richards Bay, which is just in time before he faces his former club AmaZulu post the Fifa break.
Bay will visit Usuthu on 5 October at Moses Mabhida Stadium, the first time these two sides will meet and the first time Memela will come head-to-head against his former club.
Memela had joined Bay after the club had almost completed the pre-season after his contract with AmaZulu was not renewed at the end of the last term, leading him to depart the Durban-based side after spending two successful seasons.
It was a surprise decision by AmaZulu to let go of Memela looking at the contribution he had in two seasons.
When Usuthu reached their maiden group stages of the Caf Champions League last season after finishing second in the 2020-21 season (the highest finish in the club‘s PSL history), Memela was the only player in the club to score goals (which were two).
At the end of the season when Usuthu held its annual awards, Memela scooped three: the club’s top goal scorer, Playmaker of the Season and the Players’ Player of the Season.
But that didn’t matter as he was still let go, with Usuthu president Sandile Zungu saying they were cutting the age limit in his ageing squad.
Bay quickly snapped Memela up, handing him a one-year contract with an option to renew along with jersey number 10.
“Obviously my form is slowly coming back,” Memela told iDiski Times. “Now I can say I’m sharper than I was before. When I started obviously I didn’t have a pre-season. But now I feel sharper and understanding the guys as well on how they play and also understanding what the coaches want.
“But it’s more what we have been doing in my previous team. So I’m happy, and I played 75 minutes against TS Galaxy on Sunday.”
Memela, when the Fifa international break and MTN8 semi-final fixtures are played, will not be the only former person facing his former club Usuthu.
Coach Vasili Manousakis will be another, as he was assistant coach of Benni McCarthy in two seasons before the latter was sacked in March and replaced by Brandon Truter.
Manousakis was roped in by Usuthu in December 2020 as part of McCarthy’s assistant along with Moeneb Josephs.
Memela has already broken his duck with Bay this season, scoring a winner against Royal AM which has helped him a world of good to fast-track his form.
“I think being at home alone helped me because I was not just sitting and idling,” added Memela who turned 35 on Sunday.
“I was not just waiting and hoping for a team to come, but I trained alone and being positive helped me as well.”
