Salaries may not be open to the public in South African football, but Mamelodi Sundowns are by far the best-paying team in the DStv Premiership, but Thabiso Kutumela decided to walk away from Chloorkop and all its money to reboot his career at Richards Bay.
Kutumela spent two seasons at Orlando Pirates where he played a bit-part role under former coach Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi before he was shipped out to Cape Town City on loan for the 2023/24 season. The former Bucs attacker’s contract with Sundowns was meant to expire in June 2026.
The 31-year-old made the most of his loan move as he was a key player under Eric Tinkler where he made 26 appearances in the league and netted three goals paired with one assist.
Earlier this week, Kutumela was unveiled as one of Richards Bay’s marquee signings alongside players like Siyethemba Sithebe, Keagan Allan, Tlakusani Mthethwa, Sbani Mntungwa, and Fezile Gcaba.
READ: Delighted former Mamelodi Sundowns mentor Rulani Mokwena details Wydad Casablanca move
“Me and coach Rulani worked together at Pirates and we worked well then I left for Maritzburg United. When I was in Maritzburg, the relationship was good. He is the one who said ‘Come to Sundowns’ and then I went to Sundowns because we have a good relationship,” Kutumela said.
Kutumela’s decision to leave Sundowns was motivated by his dissatisfaction at being reduced to a spectator, as he was behind the likes of Marcelo Allende, Lucas Ribeiro, and Themba Zwane – just to mention a few names – in the pecking order.
Kutumela revealed that it was Mokwena’s influence that drove him to Chloorkop in 2021. Mokwena, meanwhile has since joined Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca.
"About leaving Sundowns, when it is time, it is time and you can't deny it."
“You know why I wanted to move… It was because I was getting to a point where I’m losing this thing (passion for football) in my heart for playing football. I was losing interest in it,” said Kutumela.
“It was going to be hard for me to find a team if I was sitting for two seasons without playing.
“I told myself that I still wanted to play this thing that I started. I still want to finish as highly as I possibly can. I took a risk with the loan to Cape Town City so that it could help me in the future,” the former Bucs star added.
This will be the second time Kutumela plays for a team in the KwaZulu-Natal province, as his best season was the 2020/21 campaign where he banged in 12 goals from 26 DStv Premiership appearances.
The Mokopane-born attacker has some belief that the soil of KZN has proven to be fertile ground for his career.
“I think maybe my ancestors are from KZN. You know playing for a big team and playing for other teams is not easy.
“Maybe I am the key signing for Richards Bay and it’s going to be easy because I come from pressure. So I just have to take it day by day and game by game to adjust to the culture of the team,” Kutumela concluded.
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