Yanela Mbuthuma: Raised by His Grandmother, Driven by Belief, and Lifted by Football

Yanela Mbuthuma grew up without parents. His mother and father abandoned him while he still young. Life could have broken him early. Instead, it shaped him.

His grandmother stepped in when no one else did. She became everything to him. She believed in him when the road hard and uncertain.
From a young age, she made one thing clear.

Education mattered. Discipline mattered. Dreams mattered. She told him she both his mother and his father. She pushed him to study and to work hard.

She reminded him that finishing school came first. Football came with responsibility.

Growing up was not easy. There were days filled with struggle. There were moments of doubt. Still, his grandmother never stopped believing. Her faith became his strength.

When Mbuthuma started playing for Richards Bay, his grandmother’s voice stayed with him. She encouraged him to keep going. She reminded him that opportunities in football do not come often. She urged him to give everything on the pitch. She told him to stay focused and disciplined.

Her words guided him through pressure and expectation. They pushed him to improve. They pushed him to dream bigger.

The moment that changed everything came when he signed for Orlando Pirates. It was a milestone in his career. It was also a deeply personal victory. He shared the news with his grandmother first. Her reaction said it all. She was proud. She was happy. Her belief had been rewarded.

Mbuthuma then made a promise. He told her to leave the job she was doing. He assured her that he would take care of everything. It was his way of giving back. It was his way of honouring her sacrifice.

His journey was not smooth. He struggled. He fought through pain, setbacks, and pressure. Nothing came easily. Yet he stands today as proof of resilience.
Now, he speaks with gratitude.

He acknowledges the struggle. He embraces the light. As he puts it, sekuze kwakhanya — it is bright now.
Yanela Mbuthuma’s story is not just about football.

And it is about hope that finally turned into light.

Also read: NSFAS 2026 explained: What first-time students must know after Matric results