Kekana turns attention to national duty
Gomolemo Kekana has acknowledged the frustration of limited competitive action at Mamelodi Sundowns, but the young midfielder says his attention is now firmly on helping South Africa’s U23 side through its qualification campaign.
The 20-year-old has struggled to secure a regular place in the Sundowns senior starting line-up since being promoted before the 2025/26 season. His progress has been affected by the depth of the squad at Chloorkop, where established players are competing for the same positions.
That situation has fuelled speculation about the midfielder’s immediate future at the club. Kekana, however, has not allowed the lack of regular minutes to dominate his public message. He said the priority was to remain focused on his ambitions while valuing the opportunity to represent South Africa.
“There could be frustrations here and there but you just have to focus on what you want and I’m glad to be here to represent my country which is very important for me.”
The comments were reported by KickOff as Kekana prepares for the U23 team’s important AFCON and Olympic Games qualifiers against Madagascar. The fixtures provide him with an opportunity to remain involved at international level while he continues working to force his way into a stronger position at Sundowns.
A different route to regular minutes
International duty has become an important outlet for a player who remains highly regarded in South African youth football. Although his opportunities with the senior club have been restricted, Kekana continues to feature in the national youth structure and is part of a group tasked with navigating a demanding qualification programme.
For the midfielder, the national team environment is about more than personal playing time. He said being selected was both an honour and a responsibility, thanking the coaching staff for their confidence in him. His message placed the collective target ahead of individual concerns surrounding his club role.
The U23 camp also brings together players with different development experiences. Kekana pointed to the influence of footballers based in Europe, saying their standard adds value to the group. He also stressed that the squad must combine those varied qualities rather than rely on individual ability.
- Club: Mamelodi Sundowns
- Position: Midfielder
- Age: 20
- Current assignment: South Africa U23 AFCON and Olympic Games qualifiers
Competition remains the immediate challenge
The central issue for Kekana at Sundowns is competition for places. The source account describes a squad packed with senior talent, leaving the young player with limited chances to establish himself in the first team. No number of appearances or minutes was provided, but the lack of a regular starting role is clear from the circumstances surrounding his comments.
That makes the Madagascar qualifiers significant for his momentum. Strong performances for the U23 side would not automatically guarantee a starting place at Sundowns, but they give Kekana a competitive platform and keep him visible within South Africa’s national-team system.
The midfielder also indicated that the current U23 group has been developing since 2024. That continuity could help the players understand one another as they face continental opposition, while the mixture of locally based and Europe-based talent gives the squad a broad range of footballing experience.
For Mamelodi supporters, Kekana’s comments offer a measured response to a familiar challenge in elite football: a promising player trying to break through in a squad filled with established options. His immediate answer is not to make a public demand, but to use national duty, training and competition to keep moving forward.
With qualification matches against Madagascar ahead, his focus is now on the U23 team’s shared objective. At the same time, every appearance at that level will be watched closely as Kekana continues the longer process of earning a more prominent role at Mamelodi Sundowns.
