Stellenbosch FC midfielder Darrel Matsheke has revealed that he almost quit football after he was released by Kaizer Chiefs at the end of last season.
Matsheke bagged his first trophy in the PSL, as Stellenbosch were crowned Carling Knockout winners on Saturday. Stellies secured a victory over TS Galaxy with a 5-4 win on penalties.
The former Amakhosi midfielder scored the decisive penalty as Stellies clinched their first trophy in the club's history at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
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Matsheke joined Stellenbosch FC a few hours before signing with Motsepe Foundation outfit Castric Stars in October this year.
"It was tough and at some point, I wanted to call it quits but thanks to my mom, she encouraged me not to give up and keep pushing. That one team will make a call and it happened at the right time," Matsheke said after the Cup final in Durban on Saturday.
"I can't say (much) about Chiefs. I don't want to say much about the Chiefs. It's history," he added.
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Stellenbosch FC trailed 1-0 at half-time, turning things around with a strike by Olivier Toure, to bring the Cape Town-based outfit back into the game in the second half. The extra-time produced no goals, but Matsheke scored the winning penalty for Stellies to bring the trophy to Cape Town.
"It means a lot. I am out of words. It is emotional the way was signed by the club. I thought I was not going to play in the PSL or DStv Premiership this season.
"To me and my family, it means a lot to me, to the team as well, the way they welcomed me, the work rate, and the hard work put in at training sessions. It is amazing to see where I come from, the commitment from every player, the management, technical team, the support they give to us. They always put the extra mile and so to me and the club, it means a lot. We have just made history," Matsheke added.