KUFEZEKE iphupho lokudlala eNingizimu Afrika, kunozinti omusha weRichards Bay, u-Ian Otieno, uthi ubeneminyaka elobizela ukuzodlala kwiBetway Premiership.
U-Otieno (31) waseKenya, usayine kwiBay ekuqaleni kwesizini ka-2024/2025 esuka kwiZesco United, yaseZambia. Ufike kuleli qembu walenza elakhe ijezi ezintini, wahlalisa ebhentshini uSalim Magoola wase-Uganda, obezitamuzela ijezi kwiNatal Rich Boyz ngesizini edlule. U-Otieno usebalwa nabadlali abambalwa baseKenya, abayibambe kwiPremier Soccer League (PSL) okubalwa kubona u-Anthony Akumu owayedlalela iKaizer Chiefs, noBrian Onyango oseyibamba kwiStellenbosch.
“Kufezeka iphupho lami ngoba kunesikhathi lapho engangifuna ngempela ukuza lapha, akwangenzeka. Kodwa angiyekanga ukukholwa ukuthi ngelinye ilanga ngizodlala lapha. Ngakho ngijabule ukuba lapha. Ngibonga usihlalo weqembu (Sifiso Biyela) ngokunginika ithuba. Ngiyakholwa ukuthi ngidlala kahle,” kusho u-Otieno.
Uqhube wathi ubonga abakhaya bakhe, u-Akumu no-Onyango, ngeziyalo mayelana nendlela yokuziphatha eMzansi.
“Ngiyakhuluma nabo bobabili ngoba u-Akumu sinaye eqenjini lesizwe. UMandela (Onyango) ngikhuluma naye njalo. Bangitshelile okufanele ngikulindele, okufanele ngikwenze nokungafanele ngikwenze. Ngiyababonga kakhulu. Bangitshele okuningi ngeligi, ikakhulu u-Onyango ngoba usedlale lapha iminyaka engaphezu kweyisithupha. U-Akumu wayekwiChiefs okuyiqembu elikhulu eNingizimu Afrika, nase-Afrika,”kusho u-Otieno.
IBay izogadulisana neCape Town City emdlalweni we-quarterfinal yeCarling Knockout namuhla ngo-3 ntambama, eKing Zwelithini Stadium, eMlazi. IRich Boyz iphuma esibhaxwini sika 2-0 esithole kwiSekhukhune United emdlalweni weBetway Premiership phakathi nesonto.
“Sizozimisela kakhulu kulo mdlalo. Siyazi ukuthi sidlala neCape Town City okuyiqembu elihle kakhulu. Kodwa nathi siyiqembu elihle. Sizobathwesa ubunzima,” kusho u-Otieno.