Augustine Mahlonoko's career has not taken the direction many people it would, but the former Orlando Pirates player may have finally found a club where he can excel and take his football to a new level.
Mahlonoko was in fine form during his debut for rookies La Masia in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, scoring his first goal for the club as they beat JDR Stars 2-0 at Bidvest Stadium. Mahlonoko opened the scoring after La Masia had gone down to 10 men, following the sending off of right back, Thamsanqa Ngobeza.
The 21-year-old Mahlonoko feels he is now at the right team where he can excel, after things did not go well at Pirates, Baroka FC and Pretoria Callies.
"To score in your first game after being out for a long time is amazing. We have worked so hard during pre-season, so it's time to get our reward. I feel happy and we did well to win even when we were one man down. It shows that if we can really push, we can go to greater heights," Mahlonoko told the Siya crew after the victory over JDR on Friday afternoon.
"I think I am at the right space, you know. Alot has happened and it's all in the past. Now I am in the right team. Everyone is supporting me. I have to work hard and something has to give. As a team, we will push and compete because we have a strong team. We have set the standard and we need to maintain it. We will take it one game at a time."
Orlando Pirates missed the chance to move top of the DStv Premiership table after a 1-0 defeat to Maritzburg United: 
