For many players, a brief stint at a major club becomes a mere footnote
on their footballing CV. For Nicholas Mynhardt, however, wearing the Gold
and Black of Kaizer Chiefs remains the defining chapter of his life in the
sport.
Now 33, the former Wits University striker looks back nearly a decade after
leaving Naturena. He arrived at Chiefs in 2012 as a wide-eyed 19-year-old,
fresh from impressing at Nike’s “The Chance” competition. Despite the dream
move to South Africa’s biggest football brand, game time was limited and a
permanent first-team breakthrough never materialised, leading to a transfer
to Vasco da Gama in 2014.
Yet, years after hanging up his boots, the Chiefs crest has proven to be the
most powerful and enduring badge on his résumé.
“Now, obviously hindsight is 20/20,” Mynhardt reflected in an exclusive
interview with PSLSA. “When I had just left Chiefs, I used to regret signing
for Chiefs all the time, but I was just a youngster. Now as I’m ageing, I
realise that may have been the best thing that ever happened to me… I was 19
years old. I was at Wits University and I didn’t know what I was going to
do. Once I signed for Chiefs, it just added a clear path for me.”
That path has extended far beyond the pitch. The enduring association with
Amakhosi continues to open doors in coaching and corporate spaces. He cites
a recent 12-month role as a judge on the television show Dreamdrive,
alongside other respected figures in football, as a prime example.
“The things it’s been able to do for me since then are massive,” he said.
“If I had played for a smaller team, there’s no way those guys would contact
me and ask me to be on that show. That’s just one example of what signing
for Chiefs has been able to do for me.”
While his on-field career at the club was short-lived, the legacy of being a
Kaizer Chiefs player has provided a lifelong foundation, shaping his
identity and opportunities long after the final whistle blew on his playing
days.
