Posted in News, Team News on Aug 11, 2017.
Jayiya is a speedy and composed midfielder with a highly educated left-foot, who joined from Cape Town City. He also played for teams like Bidvest Wits, Maritzburg United and Mpumalanga Black Aces, which was renamed Cape Town City last season.
He has settled in well, having had a good pre-season. “It’s been the time of my life,” enthuses the 27-years-old. “It’s quite an experience so far and I am looking forward to the rest.”
Several of his new teammates helped Jayiya to settle in at Amakhosi, including Kgotso Moleko, Lorenzo Gordinho and Daniel Cardoso. “I played with Daniel at Wits,” Bhongo explains, “where we became good friends.”
Jayiya was born in Dlamini, Soweto, and it’s not his plan to just make up the numbers at Kaizer Chiefs. “I plan to go beyond expectations,” he says. “That’s also why I want to continue working hard on improving my own game, including speed acceleration.”
He aims to win as many trophies as possible and is focused on becoming an integral name in the starting line-up. However, as Jayiya stresses, “I want to play, but the team always comes first. The individual is less important in the bigger picture of winning cups and championships.”
Jayiya’s biggest inspiration is his family, “my mother, my sister and my little daughter. They give me reason to excel.”
He’s been a die-hard Amakhosi supporter from a young age, with his firm favourite being former Glamour Boy, Stanton Fredericks. “We played together at Wits when ‘Stiga’ was nearing the end of his career,” he enthuses. “That was very special and he guided me on things both on and off the pitch.”
To relax, Jayiya either watches cricket on TV or plays FIFA 17 or Need for Speed, a racing game. “I don’t really have a rating for these games. I just play it for fun.”
He loved being part of the Chiefs squad at last Saturday’s Derby, even though he didn’t play. “It was hectic and the atmosphere was unbelievable,” Jayiya says. “I can’t wait to actually play in a Derby.”