10 Things You Don’t Know About Tiyani Mabunda

On the field they call him ‘shuga’, but Tiyani Mabunda is living proof that patience is a virtue and if you set your eyes in anything, its possible to achieve it. These are the 10 things you don’t know about Shuga.

1. Just over 12 months ago Tiyani Mabunda was turning out for Mamelodi Sundowns’ Multichoice Diski Challenge side. Now he’s an African champion and a Bafana Bafana international.
2. For a long period the Giyani-born midfielder wasn’t even listed as a Sundowns player on the club’s website. He made it to the team list when Bongani Zungu left and he replaced him for the remainder of the 2015/16 season.
3. The 28-year-old made his debut return for Sundowns with a cameo off the bench in a 3-0 win over Chippa United back in February 2016.
4. Mabunda joined Sundowns ahead of the 2013/14 season from Black Leopards only to make three substitute appearances in that season.
5. He spent the 2014/15 season on loan at Free State Stars and returned to Sundowns for the 2015/16 campaign.
6. He carried his good run of form into the 2016 Caf Champions League group stages; scoring the opener in a 2-0 win over ES Setif; a result which was eventually chalked off after the Algerians were disqualified from the competition.
7. 378 days ago the former Black Leopards man scored an equaliser for ‘Downs in the MDC against Mpumalanga Black Aces. 229 days later he was making – and scoring on – his CAF Champions League debut in 2016.
8. On his return from CAF Final in 2016, his mom took special leave to welcome back Shuga at the airport. He came back with CAF champions Mamelodi Sundowns who were playing in Egypt.
9. Mabunda has made 23 appearances for Sundowns in 2016/17 league and cup competitions.
10. He has played 1838 minutes for Sundowns thus far.