From the hills of Sahlumbe to the bright lights of Bafana

WHEN Khulumani Ndamane runs out on to the field either in the green and gold of Bafana Bafana or the red and black of TS Galaxy, there’s a light that flickers deep in the valleys of Sahlumbe, a small village nestled near Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal. It is the light of hope - the kind that ignites when one of your own breaks through barriers that once seemed impenetrable.

- MATSHELANE MAMABOLO

BAFANA Bafana defender Khulumani Ndamane.

(BackpagePix)

To the people who watched him chase balls on dusty fields and return home with mud-splattered shorts, he is more than a footballer. He is a symbol of what happens when hard work meets humility, faith, and quiet resilience.

“I come from Sahlumbe, a small village in KZN,” Ndamane tells me during his club TS Galaxy's open media day in the heart of Johannesburg, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. “I did trials at Kaizer Chiefs in 2023, and they took me. I played for their under-19, then the Diski Challenge, and from there I went to TS Galaxy.”

At just 21, Ndamane has already achieved what thousands of township and rural youngsters dream of - donning the national colours. His journey, however, has not been the fairytale glide that headlines often suggest. It’s been one of missed chances, self-belief, and a deep trust in divine timing.

The Humble Beginning

Born and raised in a home where football was a language shared between father and son, Ndamane’s earliest memories are painted in the sound of cheering crowds from old televisions and the echoes of ‘Shabba’s’ 2010 World Cup strike.

“I watched the 2018 World Cup, but I’ve seen (Siphiwe) Tshabalala’s videos over and over,” he says with a grin. “Every player dreams of that - to one day play there. That’s what pushes me.”

But before the dreams could take shape, reality demanded its dues. Life in Sahlumbe was tough - opportunities were scarce, and resources scarcer. The notion of making it to the top flight of South African football seemed as distant as the city lights glimmering beyond the mountains.

“In the villages, there are people who play better than me,” he admits. “But they didn’t make it. I just kept working hard and believing.”

One man, Mbuso Dlamini, played a crucial role in shaping Ndamane’s journey.