Posted in News on Jul 11, 2006.
Mathebula was one of the Amakhosi’s star performers in the event and his overall improvement in his game from being an observer to becoming an impact substitute over the past season have helped the Chiefs midfielder secure a new contract with the club. Mathebula who joined Chiefs at the start of the Championship winning 2004 – 2005 season, did not see much action in his first season at the club.
Since the arrival of Ernst Middendorp he has seen more game time and he did not disappoint with some huge performances last season, including coming off the bench to turn the game when Chiefs played SuperSport United in an ABSA Cup last 32 game.
Mathebula who made his debut for Chiefs in a 2-1 win against Silver Stars in September 2004, scored his first goal in his home province Limpopo when Chiefs emphatically thrashed Black Leopards 3-0 in December 2004.
The midfield dynamo was offered a new three-year contract by the club, which will see him stay on with the Amakhosi until July 2009, commenting on the fact that he will be three more years with Chiefs Mathebula said. “In my mind there was no doubt that I was going to sign this extension with Chiefs, there is only one team to play for and that is The Amakhosi”.
Asked what swayed him to stay on with Chiefs the player who recently turned 23 said “One of my aims is to be part of the South African team at the 2008 CAF Africa Cup Of Nations in Ghana, that can only happen if I compete at the highest level in club football staying with Chiefs will help me raise my game and that will lift me into the national team”.
Mathebula who hails from Elim which is close to Polokwane in the Limpopo province recently lost his mother who has an influential figure in shaping his career and was the motivation behind his recent success.
The young midfielder has said that it is his mother’s memory that keeps him going and that right now somewhere she is happy with the news that her son has extended his stay at Naturena.
