Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele has revealed that he left Mamelodi Sundowns to secure a better future for his sister and brother.
Mphahlele made the disclosure during an emotional interview with Metro FM on Thursday, explaining that his sister wanted to attend university but could not afford the cost. His younger brother was completing high school and also hoped to continue his education.
At the time, Mphahlele felt a move to Kaizer Chiefs would give him the financial means to support both of them. He said his decision to leave Mamelodi Sundowns was motivated less by personal ambition than by the needs of his family.
“A lot of people don’t know the reason I left Sundowns, my sister wanted to go to varsity. She didn’t have money,” he said.
“I wasn’t making that much. My brother was finishing [high school], he wanted to go to university, so for me I wanted to liberate my people hence I made certain decisions in life.”
Mphahlele also explained that his mother did not own a house and was unemployed, while his father was not providing financial support for the family.
“Mom didn’t have a house and I just wanted to see them well off. My brother finished his BCom, my sister is an electrical engineer. My heart is pure.”
The defender, who was born in Ga-Mphahlele, Limpopo, began his professional career with Moroka Swallows in 2007. He made his senior debut at the age of 17 in the Original Soweto Derby and spent four years with the club, helping them win the 2009 Nedbank Cup.
He joined Mamelodi Sundowns in 2011 but initially found regular first-team opportunities difficult to secure at Chloorkop. A loan spell with University of Pretoria proved important in his development before he returned to Sundowns and established himself as a key player under Pitso Mosimane.
During his time with Mamelodi Sundowns, Mphahlele won two Absa Premiership titles, the 2015 Nedbank Cup and the 2015 Telkom Knockout.
However, he said the financial pressure facing his family made his next career move necessary.
“I didn’t make decisions for me. I made them so that my people can have a better life because if I didn’t give them a better life, no one was going to give them a better life. “And when I left Sundowns then I could afford to take them to school.”
Mphahlele joined Kaizer Chiefs in 2016 and made an immediate impression, winning the club’s Players’ Player of the Season award during his first year. He spent six seasons with Amakhosi and made nearly 100 league appearances.
After leaving Kaizer Chiefs, he played for AmaZulu before moving to Orbit College in 2025. He officially announced his retirement from professional football in August 2026.
At international level, Mphahlele represented South Africa at every junior age group before making his Bafana Bafana debut. He won 21 senior caps between 2016 and 2019.
Since ending his playing career, Mphahlele has continued working to support footballers. He co-founded Formation Finance, an initiative designed to improve financial literacy among young African players.
