During the 2005-06 season David Mathebula went through a number of highs and numerous lows -one of the latter being the passing on of his mom. Amongst the highlights of his season was the fact that he seen more game time. Furthermore the dynamic midfielder became a strong part of the team when Coach Ernst Middendorp used him to great effect on a number of occasions as a super sub.

As Mathebula entered the field of play in the second half of a number of games and turned them in favour of Chiefs. The most notable of these displays being when The Amakhosi met defending ABSA Cup Champions, Supersport United in the round of thirty, Mathebula entered the fray in the second half and scored one goal and created another as Chiefs ran out 3-1 winners.

Mathebula’s super sub billing was again displayed in lights during the Telkom Charity Cup as Ernst Middendorp, took a gamble by bringing on Mathebula at the start of the second half. He did not disappoint as he got onto the score sheet and helped set up numerous scoring chances but Chiefs were unable to make the most of the, space opened up by Mathebula. The player who recently turned 23 now turns his attention to the SAA Supa8 competition as the kick off for the 2006-07 PSL season nears.

KC.COM: David you won the man of the match award against Sundowns, as you put in a good performance, were you surprised to have won the award. The reason we ask this is because you only played for forty-five minutes?

DM: As the game ended I was walking off the field and then Yusuf Muhammad came and told me that I had won the man of the match award, then I heard the stadium announcer saying it after that the television guys came and took me off for the post match interview. Yes it did come to me as a major surprise I thought that one of the Sundowns guys had would have picked up the award, because of the fact that they won the game. Like you said I did not play the entire game so that surprised me even further. The thing is that gaining such recognition for playing only forty-five minutes of a game your team has lost must be taken with a pinch of salt.

KC.COM: What do you mean?

DM: Well firstly we lost the game and the sport is not about winning individual prizes it is about the team being successful as one, I would have preferred to have won the game and gone into the final than to have been the only Chiefs winner leaving the field. I must also not let this achievement go to my head so to speak, we have a long season ahead of us and we need to be clever about the way we approach things.

KC.COM: Would you prefer to play a full game instead of just forty- five minutes of a game?

DM: At the end of the day the coach makes the decision as to who should play when and some times where, I just obey instructions. I feel that one of the strengths of my game is coming in and making a difference quickly whether I start the game or should I be introduced as a substitute later on in the match. Maybe the coach sees it the same way and that’s why he uses me the way he does, I have given a lot of thought to this and if I am played in that kind of role I do not have a problem with it. I do feel that in time if I can play maybe seventy- five minutes and be in the game for the entire time then I will gradually develop into a ninety- minute impact player. For now I am happy to oblige with whatever the coach asks me to do, I am ready to work for my place in the team.

KC.COM: This weekend the season officially starts for us, although we do not have league game until the 27th August, we commence with a cup game against Golden Arrows. Is the team ready for the season and do you think we could advance to the next stage of the competition?

DM: When it comes to the question of readiness for the season I feel that we are very well prepared, since the 26th June we have been focusing our attention and preparing ourselves for when the season proper gets underway. Every player in our team has had some chances during the pre season and we have played a number of tough opponents, in some really competitive matches and that has helped us get better day by day or rather match by match. When it comes to Arrows, I prepare myself in the same way for every opponent. Obviously when you play against Pirates or Sundowns there is extra pressure but every game is the same. Saturday’s game is a cup game and one mistake and it’s over so we are aware of that aspect of the tie, if you look at our results over the past few years this team has a real Cup pedigree and we would love to add the Supa8 title to our recently won ABSA Cup trophy.