Kaizer Chiefs new signing Pule Mmodi only got his break into the DStv Premiership past his 27th birthday three years ago but has made of his opportunity to end up at Naturena.
Mmodi – who hails from the small town of Theunissen – spent three years in the Free State Stars reserve team and their feeder club which competed in the amateur leagues.
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These were the years after he left high school.
From there, he went on to Mangaung United in the ABC Motsepe League which is where he was then spotted by Uthongathi in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
It was from Uthongathi – where he played for two seasons – that he was then recruited by Golden Arrows in 2020.
Three years later he has earned a contract at Chiefs just months before he turns 31.
"I could have never given up on this dream to play in the PSL as long as I was playing football and making progress that I was making in the lower leagues," Mmodi told this publication in a previous interview.
"I always knew that I would ultimately get to the PSL regardless of how old I was.
"I was more focused on doing what I had to do, which was to play football, rather than when I would get through.
"For me age doesn't count if you are working hard towards what you want.
"I don't know why we are so obsessed with age instead of the performance in football.
"I have never stressed myself about my age because there are players in their late 30s still playing in the PSL.
"This shouldn't be about your age but rather how you look after your body and how you respect your job.
"Those who started in the PSL aged 17, where are they now?
"Are they still playing now?
"At times, if you are not ready, you must wait patiently because it is only the Almighty that knows when your time will come.
"You can play in the PSL at 17 but if you are not ready then you will not survive long enough to be still playing after 10 years.
"I have come into the PSL older, mature and knowing what I want," said Mmodi.
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