Soccer idol sings to a new dream

07 February 2012 - 01:59 By ANDILE NDLOVU
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Dumisane Masilela
Dumisane Masilela

Four years after an horrific car accident left him with a broken leg, former Supersport United midfielder Dumisane Masilela is planning a comeback through music.

Masilela, 23, from Kempton Park, was among more than 3000 hopefuls who queued outside the Sandton Convention Centre on Saturday to audition for the eighth season of Idols, to be broadcast on M-Net and Mzansi Magic in June.

He was voted 2007's Mvela Golden League's (now the National First Division) player of the year and joined the three-time Premier Soccer League champions SuperSport United the same year .

In 2008, his Peugeot 203 was written off in the accident and his chances of ever playing soccer again were threatened. He started writing songs as a way of dealing with his emotions.

"Before the accident my career was looking up. I had this humungous contract with SuperSport and was winning all these rookie awards."

After his accident, he was "angry" and "bitter".

"That was when I delved into music ," he said .

So extensive were his injuries that the club released him from his contract in June 2010, with the first choice of re-signing him should he regain fitness.

Masilela also quit his Bachelor of Commerce in Project Management degree at the University of Pretoria, and took up a BCom Marketing degree, which he completed last year.

"On some nights I'd be in tears and would just play the piano. F ortunately I found my expression in music."

Masilela said his friendship with Ajax Cape Town midfielder George Maluleka, former Supersport United teammates Ricardo Katza, Morgan Gould and even former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper André Arendse kept him going .

He returned to fitness in October last year, and has been playing for Highlands Park FC in the Vodacom League. For Saturday's auditions, he performed his own songs Astronomical Love and Someday.

"I haven't thought as far as my soccer and singing clashing yet. But I'm dreaming of a life when I'd get back from a huge soccer game and catch a flight to a gig."

He said he would love to return to his former club at some stage.

Viewers will have to wait to find out if Masilela received a golden ticket.

The Idols auditions continue in Durban this Saturday at uShaka Marine World, before Cape Town the following weekend and Soweto in the last weekend of the month.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now