Yanela Mbuthuma: Richards Bay striker sets ambitious target for next season

Photo Credit – Richards Bay.

Richards Bay FC striker Yanela Mbuthuma has set an ambitious target of rising to the highest echelon of his football career.

Mbuthuma, 23, signed for the KwaZulu Natal-based club at the beginning of the 2022-2023 season after being discovered at the Khabba Cup tournament where he was adjudged “Player of the Tournament.”

He went ahead to make his first senior appearance in the 2022-23 South Africa Premier League campaign, scoring his debut against Sekhukhune United the same season. He has indicated his desire to become the best striker in Africa.

In an interview with FARPost , he said: “Here in South Africa, we don’t have many strikers and I just want to demonstrate my talent, I want to work hard as much as I can to become the best striker in Africa” he said.

“In the upcoming season, all I want is to score more than ten goals because I can see the way I’ve been pushing, I can do that,” Mbuthuma added. “I believe hard work is the skill I have to perform whenever I’m on the field.”

He was an unused substitute in Bafana Bafana’s two friendlies this month – the 0-0 draw against Tanzania, but was included in the 2-0 win against Mozambique. He played 24 league games last season, scoring five goals with two assists for Richards Bay who finished in 8th on the league with 33 points, one point above giants Kaizer Chiefs.