Mamelodi Sundowns youngster Gomolemo Kekana admits frustration over limited playing time

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Gomolemo Kekana has admitted that he sometimes feels frustrated by his limited playing opportunities with the senior team but insists he remains determined to achieve his ambitions at the Tshwane-based club.

The 20-year-old is currently struggling to secure regular minutes in the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign, with competition for places in the Sundowns midfield making it difficult for him to establish himself in Miguel Cardoso’s starting lineup.

Speaking while on international duty with South Africa’s U-23 team, Kekana acknowledged the challenges of being part of a senior squad without getting enough opportunities to showcase his abilities.

“I’m in the first team; there are frustrations here and there, but you just have to focus on what you want. And I’m glad to be here to represent my country, which is very important for me,” Kekana said.

The young midfielder progressed through Sundowns’ development system, particularly the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC), before earning promotion to the senior team last season.

His rise through the ranks was highlighted by his decisive contribution to South Africa’s triumph at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored the winning goal in the final against Morocco to secure a 1-0 victory.

Despite his impressive performances at youth level, breaking into the Sundowns first team has proved challenging due to the quality and experience of players competing for midfield positions.

The likes of Teboho Mokoena, Bathusi Aubaas and Marcelo Allende have remained important figures in Cardoso’s midfield setup, restricting Kekana to just two appearances during the previous campaign.

His opportunities have been even more limited this season, with the 20-year-old making just one appearance under the Portuguese tactician. His only outing came against his former club, TS Galaxy, where he played 63 minutes.

To maintain his fitness and match sharpness, Kekana has continued featuring for the club’s DDC reserve side while waiting for further opportunities with the senior team.

Despite the limited playing time, the midfielder remains committed to his development and sees representing his country at U-23 level as another important opportunity to continue improving.

Kekana is currently part of the South Africa U-23 squad preparing for a double-header against Madagascar in the qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Games.

The two encounters are scheduled to take place at Lucas Moripe Stadium on November 14 and 17.

The Sundowns youngster also expressed his appreciation for the quality within the national youth setup, particularly the contributions of overseas-based players Fletcher Smythe-Lowe, Enrique Erasmus, Tylon Smith and Thato Sibiya.

With his ambitions firmly intact, Kekana will be hoping his performances on international duty can help strengthen his case for more opportunities at Mamelodi Sundowns as he continues his development into a regular first-team player.