The list of Mamelodi Sundowns players who have gone out on loan and successfully come back to get regular game is not too long, but Lebohang Maboe is confident he can join the elite group of individuals who broke into the team after some time away from the club.
With so much quality in the team, Sundowns have found themselves having to loan out a whole host of players throughout the years to give them an opportunity to get game time and resurrect their careers. But not many have been able to successfully return and make a huge impact.
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Over the last 15 years, Themba Zwane, Denis Onyango, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Tiyani Mabunda, Percy Tau and the late Motjeka Madisha are some of the players who came back after loan spells and were able to play regular football. This is the list Maboe wants to be part of and he believes he has what it takes.
Maboe requested to go out on loan in the January transfer window and secured a move to Tshwane rivals SuperSport United until the end of the season. It was not an easy decision for the player, but he knew he had to make it to give himself a shot of returning and playing regularly under head coach Miguel Cardoso.
"Yes, there's not really a lot of players (who have come back from loan and been successful). With the talent that I have, I definitely believe I can be part of the list. I have no doubt in mind, to be honest with you. Not with the talent that I am blessed with. I definitely can be in that list as well. You need to believe in yourself and your capabilities," Maboe said to Soccer Laduma.
The former Maritzburg United player joined Sundowns in 2018 and has been part of a league winning team since then, so it's definitely going to feel strange to not be at Chloorkop this time round should the Tshwane giants wrap up an eighth consecutive Premiership title.
"I think it will be weird, but I am also enjoying myself and enjoying football right now. Sometimes, there are things that can't be bought, like the feeling of playing football. You can't buy that feeling. You can replace that feeling with anything else. You have to be playing and expressing yourself," the 29-year-old said.
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That desire to keep winning trophies is still there, which is why he is determined to make a return to Sundowns and continue adding to his list of achievements.
"Our careers are short. Before you even know it, you are done already. You also want to be done having won trophies, which I have done. But I can't say I am enough. We've got senior players who've got 10/11 league titles. So, how can I be satisfied with six/seven? So, I've got to keep pushing," Maboe said.
Since joining SuperSport, Maboe has made eight appearances for the club, showing decent form as he tries to find some rhythm after going struggling to get regular game time at Sundowns. His experience will come in handy as SuperSport battle to survive relegation.
