How Yanela Mbuthuma went from goalkeeper to 66-goal striker

Yanela Mbuthuma’s path to becoming an Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana striker began in goal before a positional switch saw him score 66 goals in a single season.

The 24-year-old was converted from goalkeeper to striker by former coach Thobelani Nene during his time in the amateur ranks. Nene said Mbuthuma’s technical ability convinced him that he could make a greater impact further forward.

“He was at United Strikers FC, and we then took him to Langa United, where he changed a lot in one season,” Nene told Soccer Laduma in an exclusive interview.

“As a goalkeeper, he could dribble past a striker and was very good at building from the back. I realised he was very talented, so I decided to change his position.”

Nene’s decision quickly appeared justified. Mbuthuma scored three goals in his first match as a striker, before helping Langa United win the league while playing alongside youngsters in the senior team.

“Mbuthuma scored 66 goals in one season, and he was competing with a team-mate who scored 52 goals,” Nene said. “They both helped us win the league.”

His performances soon attracted attention beyond Langa United, with teams calling on him to play in different tournaments. Andile, who was at AmaMpondo United FC, then contacted Nene about moving Mbuthuma to the ABC Motsepe League in the Eastern Cape.

Nene approved the move, although Mbuthuma’s first season at that level was more modest, producing four or five goals. However, he made a major impression in the Khabba Cup, a local “kasi” tournament held during the same season.

That display led to immediate interest from Richards Bay FC, Golden Arrows and Uthongathi FC. According to Nene, the clubs were competing to sign the player after he became “the talk of the town”.

“Andile told me the best opportunity was at Richards Bay because they had just been promoted to the elite league,” Nene said. “That is how they won the race for his signature. I always knew that one day this boy would play professional football.”

Nene believes the change in position was the correct decision, despite Mbuthuma’s ability as a goalkeeper.

“His ball distribution, saving penalties and building from the back were some of the things he was good at as a goalkeeper,” he said. “South Africa has enough goalkeepers; it is strikers we are short of. He has height, can hold the ball and score goals.”

Mbuthuma made an immediate impact for coach Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana Bafana after coming off the bench against Guinea. He provided the assist for Samukele Kabini’s winning goal in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.