When he arrived at the club to warm up before the match the coach was on his cell again. “No sign of Mandla,” he told Dumi, as he paced up and down. “I don’t know what to do.” Dumi looked at his watch. There was an hour before the match. He could make it, if Vusi drove him. He went out into the parking lot and saw the scout pulling up in the BMW, it was black, but was it the one that Mandla had got into to go home? He couldn’t tell. He should have noticed the number plates. Suddenly he began to doubt everything. “Hey Vusi, you must come now. It’s urgent,” he shouted into his cell. Now he couldn’t wait to find Mandla. It was the most important thing in the world suddenly, the only thing. And there wasn’t much time. He needed to win fair and square if he was going to be accepted into the Academy – not by default – not because Mandla wasn’t there. There would always be talk if he messed up a game it would be on everyone’s mind –  they should have picked Mandla – if only they had picked him…

“Where are you going?” the coach called after him. “You can’t leave too…” But Dumi was gone –  running down the road to meet Vusi as he turned off the highway. He leapt in the car.

“Drive to Mandla’s,” he said. “Khawuleza. There isn’t much time.” Vusi loved driving his car as fast as it would go. In no time they were parked outside those big gates at the entrance of that huge house.  Dumi leapt out and pressed the bell. Then he saw the black BMW in the driveway. So it wasn’t the scout’s  –  he was at the match.  It must be Mandla’s dad, he thought. He pressed the bell but nobody answered. Then he heard a door bang, and a moment later an elderly black woman  came out from the domestic’s quarters. She had an apron on and was carrying a bucket and sponge. She looked at Dumi suspiciously, like he was going to try and break in.

“Can I help you?”  she asked.

“I’m looking for Mandla.” he told her.

“Who needs him?” she said quickly.

“I’m Dumisani. I’m at the Academy with him. We play soccer together…” Suddenly a shadow passed across the woman’s face. “What’s happened to him…? I thought…”

There was no time for this chit chat, thought Dumi. “Is his father or mother here?”  He asked, looking over to the house. “You see he needs to come to the game. They are going to choose one of us for the Academy.  If he’s not there he won’t get a chance…”

“I am his mother.” The woman said quietly.

Dumisani stared.  “But I saw him come home here.”

“Not home,” She said. “He comes to work in the garden after training.  Every day, he gives me the money to help our family. I have four children, my husband passed away.” Dumi looked down at the ground.  He felt so ashamed, he wanted the tar to swallow him up.  “I thought I saw a BMW pick him up. And his training gear, it was so new and …”

“That is my boss. Sometimes he gives Mandla a lift on his way home from work. He is a decent man. He bought the kit for Mandla. But now…” Dumi could hear the tears in her voice. “Why didn’t he tell me they were choosing for the Academy today. It is my fault. My youngest child is ill. Mandla stayed behind to look after her so that I could come to work. He’s a good boy.”

“He didn’t  know about the game. They only told us yesterday, and he wasn’t at the match…”

“Oh, no,” said his mother. “This means everything to him.  Why didn’t he tell me?”

“I can find him,” said Dumi “Where do you live?”

As soon as Mandla’s mother had given him their address Vusi and Dumi sped back to the township. They found Mandla’s street and the number painted on the zinc of his shack. A dog came up from next door barking and scratching in the sand. Dumi heard the cry of a child from the house.  “Who is it?” Mandla said from behind the door.

“It’s Dumi.”

Mandla opened the door, he looked shocked. “What are you doing here?”

“They told us yesterday that the scout would be choosing at today’s match. The game’s about to start. There isn’t time…” Dumi blurted out. Just then there was a cry from the room. In the dark Dumi saw a  little girl crying on the bed and coughing.

“I can’t leave,” said Mandla. But Dumi could see he was torn. “You go.” They both knew what this would mean.  “She’s frightened to be alone.  She should be at the doctor.” Mandla added. “What are you waiting for?”

“I’m not going. I’m going to stay here with you.” Said Dumi.

“Are you crazy?” Then Mandla looked at him closely, and smiled. “You would do that?”

“It’s the right thing,” said Dumi. “I know I haven’t done the right thing by you, but it’s not too late to start. And anyway –  if we are both here the scout can’t choose.”

“I underestimated you, my brother,” Mandla said and gave Dumi a hug.

“Vusi’s  car is outside,” said Dumi, “Let’s take your sister to the doctor.” He held the door open as Mandla carried the little girl out.

As they got into the car Dumi turned to Mandla. “If one of us is going to be chosen it will be for the right reasons.” He thought of Shorty and smiled. He was beginning to sound like Umfundisi, but there was truth in those sayings.