At just 22 years old, Ayanda Langelihle Mhlongo is already taking on an important role in developing young footballers in his community of Parkgate, Verulam. A former learner at Waterloo Secondary School, where he completed his schooling in 2024, Ayanda grew up with a deep love for football and once dreamed of becoming a professional player. When he realised that there were limited opportunities for young players in his community, he decided to create an opportunity himself.
“I love the game so much and I am passionate about it. My dream was to become a professional soccer player, but in my community no one wanted to coach us. So I took the opportunity as a leader and started coaching when I was 17,” he explained.
Ayanda's passion for coaching was influenced by his older brother, Sdumo, who coached him during his primary school years and continued to influence his football development. “We both had a passion for the game and always wanted to help the community in many ways,” he said.The experience inspired Ayanda to look beyond his own ambitions and focus on creating opportunities for other young footballers. Coaching young players comes with its own challenges.
One of the biggest difficulties Ayanda faces is a shortage of training equipment, particularly footballs. “Training equipment in township teams is one of the main challenges. Having enough balls for training sessions is difficult. Coaching a stubborn player is one of the challenges I have faced in many teams. My community loves the game. They give us support in many ways, but without sponsorship it is hard for them to keep supporting us and the kids”, he added
His ambitions extend far beyond simply coaching local teams. “My goal is to bring back football in my community, have at least one academy working and producing players for PSL teams, and coach the Mamelodi Sundowns development teams”, he said. He has already seen examples of young players from similar environments making progress in the sport. Among those who inspire him are Smilo Nhleko, who plays for the TS Galaxy development team, and Israel, who is pursuing football opportunities in the United States.
Their journeys show Ayanda that young players from local communities can reach higher levels when given the right opportunities and guidance.
He believes young people should not wait for perfect circumstances before pursuing their dreams. “If you love it, do it—and do it now. The sooner, the better.”
He hopes his own journey will encourage young players to believe in themselves and make use of every opportunity available to them. For the supporters who have stood behind him, Mhlongo has one message: “Thank you for believing in me. I will never disappoint you all.”
Contact Ayanda Mhlongo 📞 WhatsApp/Call: 067 940 2784 📧 Email: mhlongoayanda1205@gmail.com