Kaizer Chiefs new signing Ranga Chivaviro's incredible resilience has been credited for enduring the sometimes testing journey that his career has underwent by the man who gave him his first break.
Chivaviro has earned a contract with Chiefs at the back of having spent most of the last decade playing in the first division where he started out with Witbank Spurs in 2013.
READ | LIVE UPDATES | DStv Prem transfer window
It was only last season that Chivaviro eventually announced himself proper in the DStv Premiership with 17 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions for Marumo Gallants.
"The enthusiasm in him in wanting to make it was enticing enough not to ignore," says Themba Mafu, the chairman-cum-technical director of Spurs, the first division club where Chivaviro got his break in the first division a decade ago.
Chivaviro arrived at Spurs after being spotted at a provincial youth tournament in Secunda where he played for Highveld.
"You will never question his application because he will go out of his way enthusiastically so without ever trying to deliberately give less of what he could give you.
"Ranga is not a cry-baby, or the type that is spoilt, he is not that type.
"The cry-baby kind of players don't last that long in the job.
"Ranga is one of those that never gave up and is now being rewarded for his hard work.
"The career path that Ranga has had talks of his character.
"Ranga is a typical African boy who knows what it is to fend for yourself until you get to where you are.
"He is not somebody who will want to wait to complain most of the time but gets the job done first.
"The resilience in Ranga is what has taken him to where he is now because he is now where everyone else wants to be.
"It is now for him to convince anybody who could be doubting him that with the pressure at Chiefs where they have not won anything all these years he can still live up to expectations.
"They don't give you time to settle at Chiefs, but I feel he has it in him to fit in right away and score goals.
"Chiefs fans must know that he will give it his best shot.
"It is very good for him and us that he has moved on to that stage and will surely have a word of encouragement with him so that he never looks back again.
"He must make the best of what he can with what he has in front of him.
"The job will come with the scrutiny, but I see him making it," says Mafu.
You must be Sign In to read and post comments.
Click HERE to register!