Puso Dithejane and Khulumani Ndamane have become their own men after leaving Kaizer Chiefs for TS Galaxy

Indeed, another man’s trash can be another man’s treasure!

When Phuso Dithejane and Khulumani Ndamane left Kaizer Chiefs’ juniors and joined TS Galaxy, it may have seemed their career aspirations were dashed before they could even take off.

Dithejane left Chiefs after he refused to be a ball boy for a game involving the senior team, as the reserve side were also scheduled to play a match early the following afternoon.

And with many players having served as ball boys for their respective clubs - notably Siphesihle Ndlovu at his childhood club Maritzburg United (now Durban City) - it was probably misconstrued that Dithejane had let slip an opportunity to write a beautiful chapter at Chiefs.

But fast forward to today. The dreadlocked winger has shown that he didn’t need to pick up balls behind his seniors to prove he could become a footballer. No! He’s been a cornerstone for the Rockets this season, firing them up the log and into the Carling Knockout last eight after a sluggish start.

Such has been the dream season that Dithejane is enjoying at the club that he even scored the first hat-trick of the campaign, going home with the match ball instead of picking up stray balls on the sidelines or in the stands.

Granted, he still has a long way to go before becoming a fully-fledged player who makes the Chiefs hierarchy look at him with nothing but envy. A feat that could eventually see them having to fork out big money for his services after “undervaluing” his footballing qualities earlier in his career.

But he doesn’t have to look too far for motivation. This is the “new South Africa,” where loyalty and honesty are starting to be valued.

Ndamane left Chiefs on good terms, knowing he had to go somewhere he’d be valued and become an instant first-team player. And that’s exactly what he found at Galaxy, where he made more than 30 appearances across all competitions last season.

His exploits at the heart of defence haven’t gone unnoticed either. He received the ultimate reward any player could dream of: a national team call-up from Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.

And kudos to him. At Bafana, he hasn’t just been making up the numbers. He featured in Bafana’s crucial 3–0 win over Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium as the team secured automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — their first since the class of 2002.

It’s been a quick turnaround in fortunes, with reports suggesting that he’s now a Mamelodi Sundowns player, having been loaned back to Galaxy during the winter transfer window.

The towering defender knows he must continue working hard to break into the Bafana squad for the upcoming AFCON in Morocco later this year. And that’s why Dithejane has someone close to look up to for motivation — a reminder of what it takes to break into the national team setup.

The good thing about Galaxy is that there isn’t much pressure on players, on or off the field. They just have to keep doing what they do best — play football — and let club president Tim Sukazi handle the business side, selling them to the highest bidder like freshly baked fatcakes.

Sukazi, a former agent, has proven he still knows how to get deals over the line. A number of players who arrived at the club inexperienced or outcast have gone on to establish themselves and build new, warm homes either with the big three — Sundowns, Chiefs, and Orlando Pirates — or abroad.

So, it’s safe to say that Dithejane and Ndamane have found their safe havens at the Rockets, and it’s only a matter of time before they reach their respective destinies!

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