Top South African professional soccer player Khuliso “Sailor” Mudau was honoured at Mudzwiri Lodge, Musina, last Friday.

Born in Musina 28 years ago, Mudau rose from humble beginnings, playing soccer in the streets of Musina before joining JDR Stars. From JDR Stars, he moved to Magezi FC and later to Black Leopards, until his talent led him to his current club, Mamelodi Sundowns. In addition to playing for Mamelodi Sundowns, Mudau has also represented South Africa by playing for the national soccer team, Bafana Bafana, on several occasions.

Addressing the guests, Musina Mayor Nkhanedzeni Godfrey Mawela said the ceremony was unique and deliberately arranged in the hope that the people of Musina could begin a process of recognising their talent and excellence at all levels.

“This gathering marks an important phase and milestone in our efforts to ensure that our heroes are appreciated for their excellence. One of our focuses as local government should be to prioritise grassroots sports development to produce stars like Khuliso Mudau – and it is achievable,” said Mawela.

He advised Mudau to start planning his future after retiring from soccer. “One of my major concerns is what happens to footballers when they retire from playing because football is a relatively short career. It is important that while at the peak of your career, you must also explore your exit strategies. We wish you all the best, and we do not doubt that you will continue to represent us well.”

In response, Mudau thanked the municipality for organising the ceremony to honour him. “I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude. It is good to be appreciated at home, and it will encourage me to work hard to represent my people from Musina, Limpopo, and the rest of South Africa. I thank everyone who supported me from my amateur days until I turned professional.”