Mamelodi Sundowns coach Mark Mayambela warns parents over trial scam

Mamelodi Sundowns Under-17 head coach Mark Mayambela has warned young footballers and their parents not to hand money to fraudsters falsely claiming they can secure places at the club.

The former midfielder says scammers have been using social media and messaging platforms to impersonate him and offer aspiring players supposedly guaranteed positions in Sundowns’ Gauteng Development League teams in return for payment.

Mayambela, who recently led the Brazilians’ Under-17 side to a dominant GDL league title, said neither he nor the Chloorkop-based club charges players for trials or academy placements.

He revealed that a parent and son had recently travelled from Tembisa after receiving what appeared to be legitimate documentation.

“The past week, there’s a parent that came with a son; they drove all the way from Tembisa. They had a form with them,” Mayambela told SuperSport TV.

“It’s unfortunate the world that we’re living in, where people are trying their luck. We are close to December, they want to buy Christmas clothes.”

Mayambela said the incident highlighted the need for families to check information carefully before responding to approaches linked to Sundowns.

“But to the parents you know, they must be careful of this scam. Even to the players, I know sometimes we are desperate to make it at Sundowns or any other club, but verify the information first,” he said.

He explained that most players who join the club’s development system are identified through scouting, while opportunities can also arise through established contacts and references.

“With us, obviously most of our players are players that are scouted, but every now and then they always come, they always take references if they are… It’s not nice when people are taking people’s money because parents, they always want to see their kids playing football, they want to see them playing for Sundowns.”

The coach urged anyone who encounters such schemes, or knows who is operating them, to report the matter so fewer families are targeted.

“So, we really need to be careful in that and put the word out there. If you see something like this or know somebody that is doing this, let’s report so that we minimise the people who are being scammed,” he added.

Mayambela’s warning comes as the club continues to attract young players hoping to progress through its development structures. He stressed that desperation to reach Sundowns, or any other club, should not prevent players and parents from verifying claims before taking action.