It was perhaps a defining moment for Happy Mashiane when he was red carded in the first half of an important final for Kaizer Chiefs two years ago.
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The Caf Champions League final was arguably Chiefs’ biggest game in the past few years.
Winning it would mean the Naturena side also get to put a star above their team badge as indication of having been continental champions.
But playing with a man short against Pitso Mosimane’s menacing Al Ahly side, who were hungry for success, proved too much for Amakhosi.
The events of the day seem to have scarred Mashiane emotionally and he has struggled to make the team at Chiefs since then.
And now, in an interview with Chiefs supporter Thato Moremi on Vodacom’s Ringa Nathi Youtube Series, Mashiane has opened up about the incident.
“I was really hurt there,” confessed Mashiane when asked about it. “Obviously things would change (after the red card)…
“And my name will always come up whenever we speak about winning that Caf (competition).
“So it was really painful what I went through. I still get flashbacks about it, but it is something I am dealing with everyday.
“But it is getting better now… The more I talk about it the more I heal from it,” explained the 25-year-old Mashiane.
Mashiane getting back to the team now
“I am taking it one day at the time. But based on my recent performances tell me that I am moving away from it.
“And thank you for asking about it because I get to talk about it to someone else who can hear my side of the story.
“I like how things are going now,” added the midfielder.
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Mashiane has slowly been making his way back into contention in Arthur Zwane’s team.
He has made a few appearances off the bench and believes things are getting back to normality for him.
Asked about how it feels for him to play for a club as big as Chiefs, Mashiane said it comes with a huge responsibility.
“It is great. But it comes with pressure obviously because it is a big team,” said Mashiane.
“You must give 100%, if not 110%, every time you get a chance to play. But it is really great, I cannot lie.”
