Ex-Baroka star: It was not easy playing at night
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Ex-Baroka star: It was not easy playing at night
Oct 20, 2026 – 06:45 pm
By Sipho Mlotha
In this edition of My First, KickOff speaks to unattached goalkeeper Ayanda Dlamini about his first experiences in his football career.
I broke my arm [laughs]. Ngaphulwa ukubhayiza. I was still a 10-year-old young boy, playing inside as a defender. I tried to kick an opponent, only for me to fall badly and break my arm.
There was this boot; even today, I don’t know what brand it was [laughs]. It was one of those six-pin Chinese soccer boots that looked like rugby boots. As a defender, each time I approached an opposition striker attempting to mark him, he would run away because of my scary looking six studs boots [laughs]. I don’t even remember who gave me those boots.
I signed my first contract at Baroka FC. It was only for six months. I was from Alex United. I was so excited about finally getting that breakthrough. Baroka FC were still in the PSL those days.
It was against Platinum Stars in the Nedbank Cup at Peter Mokaba Stadium. We lost 1-0. That’s where I conceded my first goal. You know, playing at night is not easy. I remember the match started at 7 p.m, but when we returned for the second half at 8 p.m., everything had changed. It was much darker, and the lights were much brighter. But I did well in that game, to be honest, and I was offered three more years at Baroka FC because of that game. That’s the only game I played that season.
The Telkom Knockout, which I won with Baroka FC. Those days, the Baroka chairman was still fortunate when it came to signing the right players.
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