Defender Given Msimango has been working hard both on and off the pitch — he recently got married, is expecting his first child, and is playing some of his best football in a Kaizer Chiefs jersey.
Msimango revealed that he had tied the knot when he shared that he had to cut his holiday short last year “with his wife” to report for Bafana Bafana duty. He was initially not in coach Hugo Broos’ squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Nigeria but was later called up to replace Grant Kekana.
Since announcing his marriage to Bontle Makgalo, Msimango and his wife have also revealed on social media that they are expecting a baby. While Msimango is clearly thrilled to become a father, it’s his performances on the pitch that are currently turning heads.
At first, Msimango didn’t appear to be in coach Nasreddine Nabi’s plans when he joined the club last winter, with Nabi preferring Rushwin Dortley and Inacio Miguel at centre-back. However, following an injury to Dortley and the sale of Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Msimango was given his opportunity — and he has seized it with both hands.
His recent standout performance came in Chiefs’ 2–1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup semi-final, helping the team secure a place in the final.
“Personally, I’m in a good space — I’ve been putting in the hard work on and off the pitch. I feel confident about my contribution to the team,” he told Chiefs’ media this week.
“It’s always about improving and staying consistent. I think the focus is starting to show in my performance, so I’m just looking forward to maintaining that level.”
Playing for Chiefs is a dream come true for Msimango, not just as a place of employment, but as the club he supported growing up. That passion was on full display after the win over Sundowns, where he was seen gesturing — using sign language — that the opponents talked too much but failed to back it up with a win.
Msimango and his teammates know they’ll have to follow through — not only by winning the Nedbank Cup to end a 10-year trophy drought, but also by securing a top-eight finish in the Betway Premiership.
Here's how things stand on the #BetwayPrem log after this weekend's matches ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/c8eVBT7Ln4
Their Top 8 spot is not guaranteed, as they currently sit eighth on the table with 30 points, just one point ahead of Chippa United in ninth. Chiefs can create some breathing space by beating Chippa at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday afternoon (17:30 kick-off).
Msimango is under no illusions about the difficulty of the task, despite Chiefs already defeating Chippa twice this season in the league and Nedbank Cup.
“Of course, Chippa United are a very competitive side — structured and disciplined,” he said.
“We faced them before in the league and the cup and managed to come out victorious in both games. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t fully concentrate on them as a team. We’ve analysed and studied them, so we are ready to match their intensity on the day.”
A win over Chippa would go a long way in keeping Chiefs on track for a Top 8 finish — something they’ve missed out on for the past two seasons. More importantly, it would help maintain the feel-good factor among the Amakhosi faithful, who have been in high spirits following the win over Sundowns.
Chiefs supporters have longed for moments of joy after a season of inconsistency that had some fans calling for coach Nabi’s departure.
“To our amazing supporters, we see and appreciate you. When the Khosination stands behind us, it uplifts us,” Msimango said.
“I can’t stress enough how much your presence means. It’s not just about football — it’s about pride, unity, and hope. So, thank you to all Amakhosi supporters for standing behind us, through both the good times and the difficult ones.”