Mamelodi Sundowns defender Mothobi Mvala has addressed the criticism he receives on social media, stating that he doesn’t pay attention to it and expressing gratitude for the support of his coach, Rulani Mokwena, and teammates.

Mvala made a crucial error in Sundowns’ final league game of the 2023/24 season, getting dispossessed by Cape Town City’s Jaeden Rhodes at Loftus Stadium. Rhodes capitalized on the mistake, scoring the winning goal that denied Sundowns an unbeaten league run.

This wasn’t Mvala’s first high-profile mistake. In the 2022/23 CAF Champions League semifinal second leg against Wydad Casablanca, he conceded an own goal at Loftus Stadium, ultimately leading to Sundowns’ elimination from the competition on away goals.

Mvala acknowledges that mistakes are part of the game and expresses frustration that footballers’ errors are amplified due to televised matches.

“It’s something happens to everyone,” said Mvala about the critics. 

 “Not everyone will like you. It is a nature of our profession, it is a nature of footballers or any athletes in the world.  

“If they don’t do well and make mistakes, these things will always come up. It is just unfortunate that our work we do it publicly, people are watching and they can see whatever they want.  

“But I just have to be strong. When you know you have your family on the side; my girlfriend is always there for me, my mother, team-mates. 

“So, they helped me to recover quickly and I think that is what helps me. But I don’t put it in my head, and I’m not on social media, I don’t see things that they are saying although I know they are things that they saying, I really don’t see them and I don’t care.”  

Mvala also conceded a controversial penalty for Bafana Bafana in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 against Morocco. In that instance, the ball struck his hand after he turned away. Fortunately for Bafana Bafana, Achraf Hakimi missed the resulting penalty, and they went on to win the match 2-0.

Despite these errors, both Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos and Mokwena have shown faith in Mvala, recognizing his importance to their respective teams.