For many players getting a place amongst the substitutes on game day might not particularly please them, not for Amakhosi deputy goalkeeper Thela Ngobeni whose name on the bench for Chiefs Absa Premiership matches against SuperSport United and Mpumalanga Black Aces last month signified a major turnaround in fortunes for the young net minder.

In October last year Thela underwent surgery on his left shoulder and getting back into the game day squad meant a lot to him as he said, “it was a very difficult period for me soon after the operation, and getting back to full fitness was a challenge and thankfully one that I overcame.

When I was informed that I would be on the bench for the SuperSport game it was a massive boost for me as it signalled the end of the injury episode in my life, it also was a vote of confidence as it showed the our coach and goalkeeper coach believed that I was once again fit for duty.”

According to Ngobeni credit must go to a number of individuals who stood by him and helped him through his rehabilitation process, “soon after my surgery there were people who told me that my career was effectively over.

My parents as well as my two brothers told me not to give up; a few of my teammates visited me and encouraged me.

What really helped as well was the fact that our goalkeeper coach Rainer Dinkelacker, improvised the training sessions to fit me in so instead of sitting at home I continued working with the rest of the keepers which was really good for my morale and aided my recovery.”

The 22 year old Ngobeni now has his sights set on next season and his first objective is to become the regular number two at the Amakhosi, “for the last two seasons I have had injury issues to deal with.

I am hoping to put these behind me and hopefully challenge to be in the match day squad regularly next seasons, Itumeleng Khune is our number one I believe there is a lot I can pick up a lot working with him.”

Thela who was part of the South Africa U-20 that participated in the 2009 Fifa U-20 World Cup in Egypt is looking to win back his place in the national U-23 team, “now that I am fit again I do hope that I can get back into the U-23 national team and I would like to participate in the All Africa games and the Olympic Qualifying matches.

Just like Itumeleng did a few years ago I would like to use those games as a platform to showcase my abilities and move ahead from there.”