Frustrated at Mamelodi Sundowns? Young midfielder breaks silence on lack of minutes
One of Mamelodi Sundowns’ brightest young prospects has spoken candidly about his limited playing time in the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign.
Details: 20-year-old central midfielder Gomolemo Kekana admitted that being on the fringes of the senior squad brings moments of frustration, though he remains focused on his goals and grateful for international duty with South Africa’s U-23 team.
Speaking while in camp with the national youth side, Kekana explained:
"I’m in the first team; there are frustrations here and there, but you just have to focus on what you want. And I’m glad to be here to represent my country, which is very important for me."
After rising through Sundowns’ DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) ranks and scoring the 1-0 winner against Morocco in the 2025 U-20 AFCON final, Kekana was promoted to the senior squad last season. However, stiff competition from Teboho Mokoena, Bathusi Aubaas, and Marcelo Allende restricted him to just two appearances in that campaign, and he has played only once under Miguel Cardoso this season—63 minutes against his former club, TS Galaxy.
To maintain match sharpness, Kekana has been featuring regularly for the Sundowns DDC reserve side in recent months. He also praised the quality of South Africa’s overseas-based U-23 teammates, including Fletcher Smythe-Lowe, Enrique Erasmus, Tylon Smith, and Thato Sibiya, ahead of their double-header against Madagascar in the 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers at Lucas Moripe Stadium on November 14 and 17.
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Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
