Forgotten Man Moffat Mdluli Makes Amazing Footballing Comeback With Royal AM After 6 Years in the Wilderness

• Footballer Moffat Mdluli has pulled off a career comeback that would make for a rousing movie script
• The 32-year-old had been without a club since 2015 after being released by the now-relegated Free State Stars
• In between trying to make ends meet by playing 5-a-side football, Mdluli had to contend with depression and losing so-called friends

Footballer Moffat Mdluli has proven that you can't keep a good man down.

The defensive midfielder was away from professional football for six frustrating years struggling to find a club, until the ambitious Royal AM came calling last year. During that time, he was playing 5-a-side football in a difficult attempt to make a living while out in the wilderness.

According to SowetanLIVE, things took a turn for the worse when he was released from current National First Division side Free State Stars in 2015 when it was still in the Premier Soccer League. Mdluli was released by Royal AM in January as part of a clear-out as per iDiski Times, but his redemption arc had already been complete

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Mdluli told the publication that he sank into depression, with people he counted as friends distancing themselves from him as he battled along. He also said once Royal AM came calling, the same "friends" attempted to rekindle their relationship with him.

Mdluli said:

"It was tough for me because even the friends you think are your friends walked away from me and you had to motivate yourself every day. I would train every month in the morning whether it’s cold, raining or hot. So, through hard work and dedication, it got me here."

"I am a different person, I’m mature and experienced what I have experienced and I don’t blame anyone.”

Toxic friends, drug usage led to JDR Stars and former Mamelodi Sundowns player Khayelihle Shozi's troubles

Bad company and stress were the reasons behind Khayelihle Shozi’s shocking behaviour which saw him being reported missing and being seen around the streets of Johannesburg walking around as a beggar on drugs.

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As reported on Sports Brief, Shozi spoke to family about factors that led him to doing drugs, with friends being partly responsible for getting him hooked on drugs.

After being found, Shozi was taken into a psychiatric facility, from which he was released into the care of his family.