Zandamela chasing Sundowns dream

The DStv Diski Challenge has been instrumental in helping some of the country's finest young footballers achieve their career aspirations.

In its 10 years of existence, the league has seen over 350 players transition from development to the professional level.

Currently, in the Betway Premiership, Diski Challenge graduates are becoming household names for their respective clubs, such as Mohau Nkota, Relebohile Mofokeng at Orlando Pirates, Wandile Duba, Mduduzi Shabalala at Kaizer Chiefs, Devid Titus, and Jayden Adams at Stellenbosch FC, to name a few.

That has been a huge motivation for other youngsters in the DDC who want to reach the professional level.

Mamelodi Sundowns star attacker Thulani Zandamela is one of the lads who is chasing the dream and using the Diski Challenge to get closer to the first team.

Zandamela is currently among the leading goal-scorers with eight goals this season.

"Ultimately, I was not focused on pushing for the top goal-scorer accolade but to push and be close to the first team as possible," Zandamela told the website.

"However, with more matches I play in the DDC I see it is possible to give it a go and that would also increase my chances of playing in the first team."

"Personally, I have done well for myself to be in the line-up and also repay the coaches faith in me with goals. But there's still room for improvement."

Zandamela is yet to have a taste of senior team football at Sundowns as he has only had training sessions with the first team.

Sundowns DDC are currently second in the log with 29 points, one behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs. According to Zandamela, they have done well thus far this season as he explains: "To be where we are in the log, it is the results of the collective effort that we have been putting week in week out as a team."

"The biggest part we have to improve in our defense, we have been considering silly goals. I think our team goal to go a test further and win the league after falling short last season is inline. We just need to avoid complacency then we will be good."

Sundowns will continue their Diski Challenge quest on Saturday as they travel to Mpumalanga to face TS Galaxy at Kanyamazane Stadium at 12:00 (CAT).