Neo Maema counts previous season as major career setback

By Mazola Molefe
10th October 2024

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Neo Maema has admitted what turned out to be coach Rulani Mokwena’s final season at the club coincided with him falling behind the pecking order in the team.

Maema has only made one appearance so far under Manqoba Mngqithi, but says this was due to injuries.

During the previous campaign, however, the 28-year-old was a bit part player due to his relationship with Mokwena.

"To be honest it's something that happened, there's a lot of things that happened with coach Rulani. Me and him, I love him so much, he knows this. He's the one coach that I know that he's the reason why I'm here and obviously when you have so many expectations of yourself, you end up pushing and it was last season when things weren't so good, in my personal career,” Maema said.

“I don't regard it as one of that season for me and it's just unfortunate that in this season I started off with an injury and only then I can say when I'm fully fit, I can compete to get back to where [I was]. Like you said making sure that I'd be a name to be called when the national team is made."

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Maema vowed to fight for his place even with stiff competition in his position.

"No, it's true but it's not tough if you know yourself, you wouldn't wanna fight it. You can only just train and make sure that you make yourself available for the selection but when you know yourself you don't even need to be disappointed," he added.

The former Bloemfontein Celtic player argued it was too early into the new season to be worried over whether he will win coach Mngqithi over following the arrival of fresh recruits at Chloorkop.

"To me it's not much of a disappointment because in life there's this saying that says, 'The new guy excites the crowd more' and it's still early in my season. My season hasn't started, I got an early injury and I can't wait to get better so that I can fight to also play and help the team,” Maema explained.

“Moreover, it's not only about me, it's about the team. We are a lot of players, very good players and we need to push each other so that we can make sure that the team wins at the end of the day."