The former Kaizer Chiefs star Mphahlele made the revelation in an emotional interview captured by Metro FM on Thursday.
His sister wanted to attend university but could not afford it. His brother was finishing high school and also wanted to continue his studies. Mphahlele believed a move from Mamelodi Sundowns to Kaizer Chiefs would give him the financial freedom to support them.
PUT HIS FAMILY FIRST
Mphahlele started his professional career with Moroka Swallows in 2007. He made his debut at just 17 in the Original Soweto Derby. He spent four years with Swallows and won the 2009 Nedbank Cup. He then joined Mamelodi Sundowns in 2011.
The defender, born in Ga–Mphahlele, Limpopo, initially struggled for regular game time at Chloorkop. A loan spell at University of Pretoria helped transform his career.
He returned to Mamelodi Sundowns and became an important player under Pitso Mosimane. He won two Absa Premiership titles, the 2015 Nedbank Cup and the 2015 Telkom Knockout.
But his family situation forced him to make a difficult decision. “A lot of people don’t know the reason I left Sundowns, my sister wanted to go to varsity. She didn’t have money,” he said.
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“I wasn’t making that much. My brother was finishing [high school], he wanted to go to university, so for me I wanted to liberate my people hence I made certain decisions in life.”
Mphahlele also revealed that his mother did not have a house and was not working. His father was not supporting the family either.
“Mom didn’t have a house and I just wanted to see them well off. My brother finished his BCom, my sister is an electrical engineer. My heart is pure.”
KAIZER CHIEFS CHANGED HIS FAMILY
Mphahlele joined Amakhosi in 2016. He quickly made an impact and won the club’s Players’ Player of the Season award in his first year.
He spent six seasons with Kaizer Chiefs and made nearly 100 league appearances.
“I didn’t make decisions for me. I made them so that my people can have a better life because if I didn’t give them a better life, no one was going to give them a better life. “And when I left Sundowns then I could afford to take them to school.”
The former defender later joined AmaZulu before moving to Orbit College in 2025. He officially announced his retirement from professional football in August 2026.
Mphahlele also represented South Africa at every junior level before making his Bafana Bafana debut. He earned 21 senior international caps between 2016 and 2019.
His post-playing career has also focused on helping footballers. He co-founded Formation Finance, an initiative aimed at improving financial literacy among young African players.
