WHEN Khulumani Ndamane runs out on to the field either in the green and gold of Bafana Bafana or the red and black of TS Galaxy, there’s a light that flickers deep in the valleys of Sahlumbe, a small village nestled near Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal. It is the light of hope – the kind that ignites when one of your own breaks through barriers that once seemed impenetrable.
To the people who watched him chase balls on dusty fields and return home with mud-splattered shorts, he is more than a footballer. He is a symbol of what happens when hard work meets humility, faith, and quiet resilience.
“I come from Sahlumbe, a small village in KZN,” Ndamane tells me during his club TS Galaxy’s open media day in the heart of Johannesburg, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. “I did trials at Kaizer Chiefs in 2023, and they took me. I played for their under-19, then the Diski Challenge, and from there I went to TS Galaxy.”
At just 21, Ndamane has already achieved what thousands of township and rural youngsters dream of – donning the national colours. His journey, however, has not been the fairytale glide that headlines often suggest. It’s been one of missed chances, self-belief, and a deep trust in divine timing.
The Humble Beginning
Born and raised in a home where football was a language shared between father and son, Ndamane’s earliest memories are painted in the sound of cheering crowds from old televisions and the echoes of ‘Shabba’s’ 2010 World Cup strike.
“I watched the 2018 World Cup, but I’ve seen (Siphiwe) Tshabalala’s videos over and over,” he says with a grin. “Every player dreams of that – to one day play there. That’s what pushes me.”
But before the dreams could take shape, reality demanded its dues. Life in Sahlumbe was tough – opportunities were scarce, and resources scarcer. The notion of making it to the top flight of South African football seemed as distant as the city lights glimmering beyond the mountains.
“In the villages, there are people who play better than me,” he admits. “But they didn’t make it. I just kept working hard and believing.”
One man, Mbuso Dlamini, played a crucial role in shaping Ndamane’s journey.
“He used to take me to trials in Richards Bay because he had a car,” Ndamane recalls fondly. “He helped me a lot. Without him, I might not have made it this far.”
When he finally broke into the Chiefs development system, it felt like the world had opened its arms to him. But football, like life, doesn’t always unfold according to script.
The Kaizer Chiefs Disappointment
Every young South African footballer dreams of making their senior debut for one of the country’s giants – and for Ndamane, Amakhosi was that dream. But as he climbed through the ranks, the reality of elite competition hit home.
“It was not painful not making it to the senior team,” he insists, his tone steady. “There are a lot of players in this game. If it doesn’t happen, you must grow up and accept that football doesn’t always take you where you want to go.”
It is a mature reflection for someone so young – but then again, humility and maturity are qualities that define him.
When TS Galaxy came calling, Ndame didn’t hesitate. “I saw that maybe things were not going to happen at Chiefs. So when the chance came, I said, ‘I’m coming’. And when I arrived, things went my way.”
What others might have seen as a setback turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
“At teams such asChiefs, expectations are huge,” he explains. “As a youngster, you’ll make mistakes. But at Galaxy, they allow you to make mistakes and grow. It helps you mentally and as a player. So yes, it’s a blessing that I am here.”
A Call from the Nation
It is at TS Galaxy that Ndamane’s star began to truly shine. His composure, positional sense, and fearless defending caught the eye of Hugo Broos, and before long, the call every South African footballer dreams of came through.
“I was very happy with my progress,” he says, smiling. “I have not played a lot of seasons, but where I am shows I am working hard.”
His first camp with Bafana Bafana was a whirlwind. From training alongside experienced professionals such as Ronwen Williams and Nkosinathi Sibisi to hearing the national anthem as part of the starting eleven – the experience left an indelible mark on him.
“They told me not to be afraid,” he says. “They reminded me that I was not there by mistake, and to just play my game. That gave me confidence.”
But the journey to the national team was not without hiccups. In his first call-up, a simple administrative oversight almost derailed his big moment – he didn’t have a passport.
“Things happened too fast,” he recalls sheepishly. “I was just happy to be playing in the PSL, so the national team wasn’t even on my mind. Then suddenly, God made things happen so fast. I missed out, but I learnt from that mistake. Now I have my passport!”
It was a costly lesson, but one that reaffirmed his belief that timing is everything.
“I told myself that if coach Broos saw me once and liked what he saw, I must just keep working. If I continue performing, another opportunity will come – and it did.”
Faith, Family and the Fuel of Loss
Behind the calm smile and gentle tone lies a story marked by both love and loss. For all his achievements, one absence continues to cast a long shadow over Ndamane’s success – that of his dearly departed father.
“It is painful,” he says quietly. “I would have loved for him to see me play, to make him happy while he was alive. But I believe he is my great ancestor now.”
It was his father who introduced him to Kaizer Chiefs – and to football itself.
“I supported Chiefs because my dad supported Chiefs,” he says, eyes softening at the memory.
Today, his family remains his driving force.
“I live with my grandmother (when I am home) now,” he shares. “My siblings are older, but she’s the one who’s been there for me. Things were hard growing up – they still are – but God has given me the opportunity to work, and I try to help at home.”
In his village, Ndamane is no longer just Khulumani – he is a source of pride.
“It’s nice to have people celebrate me for doing something good, especially in the village. I’ve managed to take their name and put it up there.”
The community that once watched him chase dreams is now watching him live them. And he, in turn, carries them with him every time he steps onto the field.
Ndamane’s football journey came at a price – one that he is now eager to repay.
“I went to school and finished Grade 11,” he admits. “It’s just that my love for soccer took over. I never had dreams of being a lawyer or a doctor. But now that I’ve achieved my goal of becoming a professional, I think I might go back and complete my matric.”
It’s a small but significant statement – one that reflects his growth and awareness of life beyond football.
When asked if he has plans to move to another club, he chuckles, particularly in relation to reports that he has already penned a pre-contract with Mamelodi Sundows.
“People will always talk, but I don’t know if I’m joining any club. Mine is just to play. God will make things happen in his time.”
It’s this unshakable faith that keeps him grounded. Whether it’s the roar of Mbombela Stadium or the quiet of home, Ndamane remains the same – focused, humble, and grateful.
Inspiration for a Generation
In a football landscape often defined by egos and extravagance, Ndamane’s simplicity is refreshing. He does not crave the limelight – he merely wants to play, to improve, and to represent his people with pride.
His story is one of perseverance and perspective – of turning setbacks into stepping stones and embracing growth through grace.
When asked what it meant to help Bafana Bafana qualify for the World Cup, his face lights up.
“It made me very happy,” he says. “As a young player, to be part of such a historic event – it will always be said that in 2025 these people were there. It shows my progress.”
Progress indeed – not just in football terms, but in spirit. From Sahlumbe’s dusty grounds to the international stage, Ndamane represents a bridge between dreams and destiny.
For the young boys still kicking plastic balls tied together with string on the outskirts of South Africa’s rural heartland, Ndamane’s journey offers both inspiration and instruction.
“Be committed to your work,” he says, echoing advice that has become his mantra. “Listen to your coach, do what he says, and always give your best. That’s what has placed me where I am.”
And yet, for all his success, he remains strikingly self-aware – conscious of how easily it all could have gone differently.
“Football is unpredictable,” he reflects. “Where you wish to go is not always where you’ll end up. But every door that closes can open a better one. You just have to keep believing.”
It’s a philosophy that turned disappointment at Chiefs into destiny at Galaxy. It’s the same mindset that transformed a missed call-up into a second chance. And it’s what keeps him smiling through life’s inevitable challenges.
There’s something poetic about Ndamane’s journey – a young man from an obscure village now set to carry its name to stadiums across the continent and the world even. He knows that for many back home, his success is not just his own.
“At home, they’re very happy for me,” he says. “They know how I used to trouble them, telling them I want to go play soccer – and now I can do things for them.”
When he plays in KwaZulu-Natal, Mbuso Dlamini, the man who once drove him to trials, still comes to watch.
“He came to the match against Zimbabwe,” Ndamane recalls proudly. “Of course, I gave him my Bafana jersey.”
It’s these small, human gestures that make his story resonate. They speak of gratitude, of remembering where one comes from, and of the humility that keeps a rising star grounded.
For Ndamane, the road ahead is as open as the rolling fields of his childhood. Whether or not he makes the final AFCON squad, he already knows what he must do.
“The final team is in the coach’s hands,” he says simply. “Mine is to keep pushing, the way I’ve been pushing.”
It’s that consistency – the quiet, daily grind – that defines him. He is not driven by fame, but by purpose. Not by spotlight, but by substance.
In a sport often dominated by noise, Khulumani Ndamane speaks softly – and lets his game do the talking.
The boy who dreamed beyond the village
As our conversation winds down and Ndamane rushes so he can catch a lift with teammates leaving the Sturrock Park grounds after training, I can’t help but reflect on the irony of his journey. The boy who once dreamed of Kaizer Chiefs is now a Bafana Bafana player because he dared to accept that dream’s detour.
He could have quit. Many did. But he chose to keep walking – and that made all the difference.
Today, when the anthem plays and his name is read out, somewhere in Sahlumbe a grandmother smiles, a community gathers around a television, and a young boy looks on – thinking, “If Khulumani made it, maybe I can too.”
And that, perhaps, is the greatest victory of all.
