‘I took a gun and shot my tekkie, claiming I was shot by kidnappers’ – Ex-Sundowns star

Former Mamelodi Sundowns winger Lovers Mohlala has retold his crazy stories back in the day after going broke just three months after leaving football.

Read: North Africans reject Sundowns’ R18 million offer!

Mohlala was a dazzling and left-footed player during his heyday for the Brazilians, and was part of the infamous squad that conquered topflight football, winning three Castle Premiership titles in 1998, 1999 and 2000, after he had been signed from Wits University in 1997.

Lovers Mohlala wants Sundowns to sign Asamoah Gyan | Futaa.com South Africa
Lovers Mohlala during his Mamelodi Sundowns days.
(Image: SowetanLIVE)

Off-field issues however derailed his promising career. Mohlala spend money on flashy footballer’s lifestyle and expensive.

In a tell-all interview with KickOff.com, Mohlala dug deep into what transpired, and how his life has now changed for the better in recent times.

“While I was on my way to Kaizer Chiefs, Sundowns called me and I went to Sundowns. My heart was not with Chiefs. Wits wanted R300 000 for me,” Mohlala said, on how he joined Sundowns.

“My salary at Sundowns was R12 000, from R5 000 [at Wits]. Lovers’ head became bigger, he bought two similar BMWs. But people didn’t understand, I was buying for business. I wanted them to be hired for weddings.

“I was always in the news for the wrong reasons. There was a time I was late for camping at Sundowns and I claimed I was kidnapped. I took a gun and shot my tekkie, claiming I was shot by the kidnappers.

“There was also a time where police would look for me while I was playing at Odi Stadium. I don’t remember who was the coach then and he told Themba [Mnguni] to change position so I could leave the field on the other side and run away from the police. Somebody sold me a stolen car. I left still wearing full Sundowns kit!”

Lovers Mohlala working at his farm. (Image: KickOff.com)

Now 44, the former Masandawana left-winger has his own farm with livestock as well as his own soccer academy.

“I went broke my chief after football, I went broke. I didn’t have anything… I didn’t have a car. I got broke after three months,” he revealed.

“But I’ve got a family now, they are in Johannesburg while I’m on the farm. I have got two children with my wife. I stay on the farm. I have cows.

“The soccer academy is supported by Glencore mine. I do motivations, even though people don’t want to pay me. I have done it with Platinum Stars, Bloemfontein Celtic and Sundowns.

“Sundowns have committed themselves to actually assess my players anytime whenever I see a good player. There’s a guy by the name of Sithembiso Ntshangase. I met him in 1993 and he’s making things happen for me.

“You see sometimes in life we should tell these players. Former teams should call us to speak with these kids before they sign them for the PSL, to tell them what are the challenges of playing in the PSL or being in the limelight. Tell them how we spent our money, and what we have now,” he added.

Mohlala also played for the likes of Moroka Swallows, Jomo Cosmos, Silver Stars, AmaZulu and Black Leopards, and was capped nine times for Bafana Bafana.

Below are images of the former Sundowns man putting in work at his farm, courtesy of KickOff.com.