Abbubaker Mobara is hoping his reunion with Benni McCarthy at AmaZulu will revive his career, writes Mogamad Allie.

The date 4 August 2016 will always be fondly remembered by Abbubaker Mobara. It was a humid evening at the Mane Garrincha Stadium during the Rio Olympics that Mobara, then aged 22, completely neutralised Brazil’s poster boy Neymar.

The Mitchell’s Plain-born defender made a massive impression as he hassled and harried his more illustrious opponent. Having had a world-class operator like Neymar in his back pocket, Mobara’s career seemed set to take off.

A move to Orlando Pirates, who signed the defender just before he left for the Olympics, was meant to be the next step in his growth into a regular starter not only with the Buccaneers but also with Bafana Bafana. To say his three-year stay with the Soweto giants was a disappointment would be an understatement as he failed to nail down a starting berth in Milutin Sredojevic’s side.

In three frustrating seasons with the Buccaneers Mobara would make only 35 starts, prompting a return home to join Cape Town City before the 2019-20 season. He was attracted home by the prospect of playing under Bafana legend Benni McCarthy.

That relationship proved to be brief as McCarthy was sacked in November 2019. It was during the five months of working under McCarthy, and then Jan Olde Riekerink, that Mobara showed glimpses of his best form with some impressive performances for the Citizens.

The prospect of reuniting with McCarthy at AmaZulu was too good to turn down for the utility player who is equally comfortable at right back, central defence or centre midfield. He was signed as a replacement for departing midfielder Siyethemba Sithebe, who fell out with the AmaZulu hierarchy when he secretly signed a pre-contract agreement with Kaizer Chiefs.

‘I will always play my heart out to be part of the national team,’ he told TimesLIVE. ‘And with this AmaZulu team that can happen. They are very versatile and they have developed a good style of play under coach Benni. I’m just happy to be part of his team and excited for the season ahead.

‘It is exciting to work with Benni again. He is a South African legend so I’m keen to learn as much as I can from him to improve my football. It is a great opportunity for me to tap into his knowledge.’

The prospect of playing in the Champions League was another key factor in nudging Mobara to move to AmaZulu. As it turned out, he made his debut for the club in their opening Group B fixture away to Raja Casablanca in early February.

Former Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Farouk Khan, now a commentator with broadcaster SuperSport, believes his move to Usuthu is a sensible one. ‘It will be good for him to play under Benni who, as a Capetonian himself, understands the dynamics of the Cape Town players,’ Khan told SoccerClub.

‘Mobara is a very versatile footballer who can play anywhere across the back four or midfield, he’s capable of performing equally well in any of those positions. He’s a very useful and dynamic player.’

Playing under a coach that believes in him and can bring the best out of his players, Mobara has a great opportunity to revitalize a promising career blighted by injury and a forgettable spell at Orlando Pirates. Having turned 28 in February, he knows he has to hit the ground running at AmaZulu as time isn’t on his side any longer.

Fast Facts
Full Name: Abbubaker Mobara
Date of Birth: 18 February 1994
Place of Birth: Cape Town, South Africa
Height: 1.79m
Position: Defender/midfielder