Former Swallows midfielder Mkhuseli Rampa targets PSL return after injury

Mkhuseli Rampa is preparing to return to professional football after recovering from the knee injury that ruled him out for much of last season.

The 23-year-old midfielder has been working to regain his fitness and is hopeful that another opportunity in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) will follow soon. Rampa was most recently on the books of Marumo Gallants during the 2024/25 season, having previously played for Moroka Swallows.

His injury was sustained in November 2024 while he was training with Marumo Gallants’ DStv Diski Challenge team. Rampa said he had been playing in the reserve competition because financial problems had prevented him from featuring for the club’s first team.

“The injury I got was before I left Marumo Gallants, in November 2024. I was not playing in the first team because there were issues of money, so I was in the DDC team. I would just go myself to the DDC and play. I got that injury while I was at training, and I didn’t think it was something big,” Rampa told Soccer Laduma.

Patient recovery

The injury eventually required surgery, with Rampa receiving support from a hospital worker in his home area of KwaThema, east of Johannesburg.

He also underwent physiotherapy provided by the hospital and added extra work to his rehabilitation programme. Although he had hoped to return as early as January last season, Rampa decided not to put his recovery at risk after recognising that he was trying to come back too quickly.

“Fortunately, there is a guy who works at a hospital here at home and he helped me. I went for an operation and I attended physiotherapy which was provided by the hospital and I was doing extra work. I didn’t rush myself. I wanted to come back last season in January, but I could see I was rushing myself. I spoke to my agent and he also agreed that I should not rush myself. Now I am ready,” he said.

While he was sidelined, Rampa continued training with Free Agents, a group based in his local area made up of unattached former professionals. The sessions and friendly matches helped him maintain his fitness during his lengthy absence from competitive football.

“I was training with a team here at home called Free Agents. It’s ex-professionals who don’t have teams. We played friendlies against teams such as Leicesterford and Pele Pele to keep myself fit.”

Interest from clubs

Rampa has recently been assessed by Kruger United and his former club Marumo Gallants. Those opportunities have raised hopes that he could secure a new club and resume his professional career.

The versatile midfielder believes a return to the PSL would represent a major turning point. Having spent so long recovering from injury, he is determined to make the most of any chance he receives.

“Getting an opportunity to be in the PSL again will mean a lot to me, and I will make sure I grab the opportunity with both hands and go all out for the club I join and make sure that I achieve more. It will change my entire life.”