At just 18-years old, Takalani Mazhamba made Kaizer Chiefs history over the weekend by becoming the club's youngest-ever goalkeeper debutant in the PSL-era. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Kaizer Chiefs legend Itumeleng Khune has thrown his support behind teenage goalkeeper Takalani Mazhamba after the youngster etched his name into the club’s history books over the weekend.
Mazhamba made his senior debut during Chiefs’ clash against Chippa United FC on Saturday after the Amakhosi technical team made the surprise decision to rest first-choice goalkeeper Brandon Petersen. The appearance immediately carried historic significance.
At 18-years, 11-months and 23-days old, Mazhamba officially became the youngest goalkeeper to make his debut for Chiefs in the Premier Soccer League era according to the club’s official records. Shortly after the match, Khune publicly embraced the milestone despite seeing his own long-standing record surpassed.
The former Bafana Bafana captain took to social media to congratulate the youngster, posting: “Record Breaking, well deserved brother.”
The gesture symbolised an important passing of the torch moment at Naturena.
For years, Khune represented the standard for goalkeeping excellence at Chiefs after emerging as one of the club’s most influential modern-era players. He himself had entered the senior spotlight at a young age when he made his professional debut against Jomo Cosmos in 2007 under coach Muhsin Ertugral.
At the time, Khune was already regarded as a young goalkeeper with enormous potential. However, Mazhamba has now surpassed even that benchmark.
Former Chiefs goalkeeper Thela Ngobeni had also debuted young for the Soweto giants back in 2009, but he too was already 20 years old when he made his first appearance.
Although Mazhamba now owns the Chiefs PSL-era record, he narrowly missed out on becoming the youngest goalkeeper debutant in overall PSL history.
That record still belongs to Jethren Barr, who debuted for the now-defunct Bidvest Wits in 2013 at just 17-years old, seven months and 14 days old.
Still, for Chiefs supporters, Mazhamba’s debut may represent more than just another statistical milestone. It may also signal the beginning of a new goalkeeping era at one of South Africa’s biggest clubs.