In breaking through the professional ranks 15 years ago, Phumelele 'Ace' Bhengu was a striker who showed the greatest of promise that he was hyped up to such status that he was even billed as the next Benni McCarthy.
No blame on those that felt that way as Bhengu was a teenage forward that Moroka Swallows were hoping to polish into a top scorer.
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However, when Bhengu landed in Egypt to play at the Under-20 World Cup two years after making his professional debut, he was now a right-back.
Puzzling it was but this then marked the beginning of a zig-zag journey in Bhengu's playing career that took was reinvigorated at Thanda Royal Zulu during the 2014/15 season after having been in the wilds.
"For me, I have always thought it was a bonus to the coaches that I was a utility player because it meant I could be moved around without making a substitution when changing the system," argues Bhengu.
"But then maybe I played in the wrong country where a utility player like me is not valued.
"If I had gotten to play overseas, it could have been a different story but then I only played here in South Africa.
"Remember, I even kept goals for Swallows in one of the CAF games," points out the former youth international.
Unfortunate for Bhengu was that his ability to be a utility player appeared to limit his influence as he never genuinely blossomed at all other clubs besides Swallows and Thanda.
His last club in the professional ranks was Bizana Pondo Chiefs when they were relegated from the first division in the 2020/21 season and is now looking to move into the coaching and analysis space.
"So, through the recent years I have had to relocate from Johannesburg to Durban with my family.
"I then joined Friends in the ABC Motsepe League which is where I have played for the past two seasons.
"Since then, I have done the D licence but luckily before then I already got a coaching gig at Redwood College in La Lucia.
"I'm also involved with United Academy which is also here in La Lucia where I work with the Under-8 to Under-15.
"I wouldn't say I have retired from football but what happened is that I didn't get any teams interested in me.
"So, as a family man, I had to take this opportunity that I now have which is something that I have always hoped for.
"Life must still go on without playing football and I must put bread on the table.
"What gives me happiness is that I'm still involved in the game and I'm also pursuing my passion of being an analyst.
"I want to be an analyst be in any club, on television or radio, and TM scouting have already asked me to analyse for Milford (Motsepe Foundation Championship) who are under Asanda Mvalo.
"This is now a new journey for me that I hope to grow in and I'm happy that I played football to the levels that I reached," explains Bhengu.
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