Former Bafana Bafana winger Deolin Mekoa has revealed how he remained motivated to continue his career after his move to Mamelodi Sundowns fell through.
Mekoa, 28, was on the verge of joining Sundowns in 2016 after the Rio Olympics, where at the time he was a mainstay in the midfield at Maritzburg United.
However, things seemingly took a turn for the talented midfielder as he was later loaned out to the now-defunct Ajax Cape Town before being released at the Team of Choice in 2020.
Months later he resurfaced in the GladAfrica Championship with Bizana Pondo Chiefs, who were then relegated and in October last year, he went another tier lower with his local club Summerfield Dynamos.
“For me, I was always motivated you know, I was at Maritzburg then they sent me on loan to Ajax, then I came back to Durban you know,” he said at the Nedbank Cup draw in response to iDiski Times.
“It wasn’t like coming right with getting a team you know, so I just thought to myself, let me go to Summerfield, it’s just up the road from where I stay in Durban you know.
“I went and spoke to him and he said no just come and join for this few months you know. I said why not, I joined and look we’re KZN Mostepe League champions and in the quarter-final of the Nedbank, so for me, that’s even more motivating.”
Mekoa who racked up 141 appearances for Maritzburg over his six-year spell says he’s excited about the game again and is motivated to make history for his hometown.
“I think I had a great spell in playing football, so when you mention where I’ve been you know, so now, I think it’s time to promote this team to the GladAfrica Championship,” he added.
“We’ve got talent and the chairman behind us, the coach. My greatest achievement will be to put Chatsworth back on the map.
“We last had Manning Rangers who played in the professional ranks you know, for this team to get promoted would be a big achievement for Summerfield Dynamos and myself.”
Dynamos were drawn with DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarter-final stage of the Nedbank Cup on Monday evening.
