Vasili Manousakis Remembers Siphamandla Mtolo at Richards Bay FC!

Vasili Manousakis Remembers Siphamandla Mtolo at Richards Bay FC! The Natal Rich Boyz have suffered an immeasurable loss.

Midfielder Siphamandla Mtolo passed away on Tuesday afternoon after collapsing in training earlier that morning. Head coach Vasili Manousakis has remembered the influence of the midfielder.

Spepe joined the Natal Rich Boyz from Uthongathi FC a few seasons ago. His leadership skills were there for all to see as he became club captain within a season.

The midfielder helped them to win the Motsepe Championship Foundation last season, winning promotion into the DSTV Premiership for the first time in their history. Mtolo, club captain, being the first person to life the trophy.

“It was clear that he was a vital piece of the club’s history, being the captain and lifting the first division trophy,” Manousakis told News24.

“Coach Pitso [Dladla] and the technical team spoke very highly of him, and I couldn’t wait to see him in action. But I knew it was going to be months, because he had an operation on his knee.

“But then I saw him around the pitch doing the rehab, never missing a session, always interacting with the players, always respectful, always greeting and doing it with a smile on his face. I understood why this guy was the club captain.” He added.

When Manousakis arrived, Spepe had just had knee surgery and would be out until February of this year.

“He was working so hard on rehab that the date that we were given was February 2023

“Whenever you asked him, ‘how are you feeling, skipper?’, he would respond: ‘I’m coming back before February. I’m coming back, soon-soon.’

“He was always positive.”

The Natal Rich Boyz aren’t expected in domestic football for the foreseeable future. Vasili Manousakis Remembers Siphamandla Mtolo at Richards Bay FC!