Ex-Kaizer Chiefs playmaker: ‘My heart was broken’
Remember him?
Former Kaizer Chiefs star Michael Nkambule has opened up on various disappointments in his career. Notably, one involved Sir Alex Ferguson.
Nkambule recalls missing his chance with Manchester United
Former Kaizer Chiefs playmaker Michael Nkambule was close to joining Man United under Sir Alex Ferguson. However, at the time, South African footballers needed to have played 70% of national team games to get a work permit to play in England. Via IOL:
“My heart was broken. I was 15, sitting with Alex Ferguson and they wanted to give me a contract, but the law didn’t allow it.”
English interest in Nkambule didn’t end there. Chelsea, recently taken over by Russian Roman Abramovich, also invited him for a trial. Nkambule eventually went on trial with French side Strasbourg.
“I trained with the under-18s and played a friendly for the reserves. I was still 15. In the friendly, I came on as a second-half substitute, scored a goal and had two assists. After the game, I was taken for a medical. Afterwards, I was taken to the office and given a contract to sign.
“My brother, who was in France with me, told them I couldn’t sign the contract until my father had seen it. But they convinced me to sign it having reached an agreement over a fee with Kaizer Chiefs, which was R1 million. My father got 10% of that.”
A return to South Africa
Nkambule couldn’t break into the Strasbourg first team so he returned to South Africa with a loan spell at SuperSport. A reunion with Kaizer Chiefs followed in 2007 but his contract with the Glamour Boys was terminated in 2010. He made 10 appearances for them, providing a single assist.
Sundowns vs Kaizer Chiefs next
You have to go back to April 2021 for Chiefs’ last win over the South African champions in any competition. Ironically, Uruguayan Gaston Sirino was a goal-scorer for Downs on that afternoon. Downs are unbeaten in each of the last NINE H2Hs across all competitions, but former Sundowns man Sirino will miss this clash with a suspension.
What are your memories of Nkambule?
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