Ndamane Opens Up On Chiefs Exit: I Didn’t Do Anything Wrong
TS Galaxy and Bafana Bafana central defender Khulumani Ndamane has opened up about his departure from Kaizer Chiefs, insisting that he “didn’t do anything wrong.”
The 21-year-old has become a key figure in the TS Galaxy setup, earning his Bafana Bafana debut in June, following an impressive campaign last season.
Since then, the KwaZulu-Natal–born youngster has continued to grow in confidence and stature, with speculation mounting about his long-term future.
Originally from Sahlumbe, a rural area in KwaZulu-Natal, Ndamane trialed with Chiefs in 2023 and was signed to join the club’s under-19 team.
He later progressed to the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) squad, but with limited opportunities to break into the Amakhosi senior side, he made the bold decision to join TS Galaxy, where he has since flourished.
Ndamane is among several players who made the move from Chiefs to Galaxy in 2023 — a list that also includes Puso Dithejane and Ntando Nkosi. Omega Mdaka, who was ditched by Chiefs, went on to join Stellenbosch.
Reflecting on his decision to leave Naturena, Ndamane said his move was driven by a desire for clearer first-team opportunities and career growth.
“I didn’t do anything wrong at Chiefs. My story is different from Puso Dithejane. I didn’t do anything wrong, and nothing bad happened. I think as a player I wanted to grow in football, so playing for the DDC side there, I realised that I can do more. Just because I didn’t play for the first team didn’t mean I wasn’t good, so I was able to come and try my luck here at TS Galaxy,” added the TS Galaxy defender.
The young defender’s rise at Galaxy has not only earned him international recognition but also positioned him as one of South Africa’s most promising defensive talents.
Like many young boys and girls across South Africa, Ndamane grew up dreaming of one day representing his country on the international stage. But turning that dream into reality is never an easy journey.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos handed the TS Galaxy defender his senior national team debut in a friendly against Tanzania in June — and Ndamane made an instant impact, earning the Man of the Match award on his debut.
He continued to impress, featuring for 30 minutes as South Africa defeated Lesotho 3–0 in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September.
With Broos facing a defensive crisis ahead of the crucial qualifier against Rwanda earlier this month — after Mbekezeli Mbokazi was sent off in a frustrating draw against Zimbabwe — questions arose about who would partner Nkosinathi Sibisi in central defence.
However, with results elsewhere — notably Nigeria’s win — helping South Africa’s qualification chances, Broos showed faith in the youngster, starting Ndamane alongside Sibisi in the must-win clash. The 21-year-old displayed remarkable composure and maturity as Bafana Bafana cruised to a 3–0 victory, booking their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ndamane now joins a growing list of promising young central defenders pushing for a permanent place in Broos’ squad ahead of both the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco this December and next year’s FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
“Obviously, I grew up loving football, and like many others, I dreamt of playing for the national team,” said Ndamane. “Now that it’s happening, I’m very happy and grateful.”
The talented defender will now be focused on maintaining his consistency and form as he looks to represent South Africa at a major tournament for the first time.
