Kekana: 'They saw my passion’

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Aug 04, 2022. 13:00

Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Hlompho Kekana recently announced his retirement from the beautiful game, calling time on a trophy laden career spanning 17 years. In doing so, the fan favourite expressed his love for football.

Kekana plied his trade for Black Leopards, SuperSport United, Bloemfontein Celtic and Sundowns in the South African game. During spells with SuperSport and Celtic, Kekana swiftly built a reputation for himself as being one of the PSL’s most sought after midfielders.

With the Brazilians, Kekana’s trajectory continued on a positive note as he established himself as an integral part of the club’s ever changing midfield department.

Kekana is an eight time League winner, while also picking up two Telkom Knockout trophies along the way. The 37-year-old ends his playing career as a CAF Champions League & CAF Super Cup winner as well.

On an international level, Kekana represented Bafana Bafana on 30 occasions.

In announcing his retirement, Kekana wrote a letter explaining his love for the game and how his dream of becoming a professional footballer materialised.

“Hlompho Kekana woke up today deciding he was going to write a letter announcing my retirement. It has been coming for some time, since I left Sundowns,” Kekana told Marawa Sports Worldwide, as per the Sowetan Live.

“As a kid growing up I always knew I wanted to play football. I have spoken a few times in my career about how I put up the bread money on football games as a kid,” he said in his letter.

“The people who knew me back then knew my crazy goals and they clearly saw my passion for the game. And this passion led me to leaving home at a young age.

“It hasn’t always been easy, there were sacrifices. There have been many people who have played a role in me living the dream, who walked the path alongside me or supported me.”