DoRego's Revolving Blog

I'm going home to Parys and I'll be working with a specialist there. We'll take it

from there, but there are already signs that I'll be okay. I can feel the pain when I try to jog, but I can walk. I don't think it will take three weeks to recover. I'm sure it will be two weeks or a week-and-a-half. I just want to spend some time with my family and after a week I'll be back in Jo'burg and start training with the Stars of Africa academy. I was disappointed to pick up the injury because, I mean, we all know that when you have been called up to the national team, you want to play, and you want to make your fellow citizens happy. But things like this happen in football and I just have to focus on my recovery.

 

I didn't actually watch most of the game between Bafana and Zambia. I watched the second half. But I think we played well, we just have to put numbers in the box. We can't

always defend! We have to go forward too and the coach has been encouraging the guys to go forward. I was a little disappointed that we weren't putting more numbers in the box and I think if we had managed to do that we could have at least created more chances.

 

There's so much to learn from Zambia, but I don't actually think we must copy what they are doing. The Zambian guys have been together for three or so years, so they know each other. They haven't changed coaches that much and we have a new coach, so it will take time to try and implement some of the things that they're doing. It's better that we try our own thing and see if we can really do it. We need to test ourselves. We cannot always

copy what other countries are doing. We need to step up and at least try to do other things that we can really be proud of.

 

Everything went extremely well last season and everyone in Sweden was impressed with me. They didn't expect me to adjust or deliver as quickly as I did and for that they have been rewarding me. One of the biggest things is that they wanted to sign me permanently, so I was supposed to meet with my agent on Monday. It shows that they have belief in me. There have been a lot of teams who wanted to have a look at me, but we had an agreement with Malmo when I signed that if I do really well, then they'll get first preference

to sign me outright. So they have first preference at the moment and we can't really focus on other teams. We have to honour the contract. At Malmo they have a lot of young players. They give young players a chance to play, so I'm in a group where I have players who are the same age as me. It was kinda easy for me to adjust because the mentality is the same

and they are energetic. Everyone wants to work and they are willing to help you in any way. That's one of the reasons I managed to settle in well. Also, the first time I was there, they already knew about me. I still remember the coach telling me they had already watched my videos.

 

The captain of the team, Jiloan Hamad, told me, "We've watched your DVDs and we think you're a good player. We need someone like you because we really want to challenge for the league." Those words really made me calm down and realise, These people are willing to give me a chance to play, so why don't I grab it? They had sold their best striker to an Italian club and I already knew that I had big shoes to fill. Look, I was disappointed to have left Orlando Pirates, but if I'd stayed there, teams like Ajax Amsterdam wouldn't have seen me, so now at least they know me. Who knows, after a year or two or a couple of months, I might be there.

 

There were rumours that Bradley Ralani might join me at Malmo in January. I heard from the guy who's looking after us in Sweden that Malmo showed interest in him, but we'll just have to wait and see. I think Ayanda Nkili has signed with a team called Orebro SK because they were willing to give him a contract. I think May Mahlangu won't be at Helsingborgs IF next season. I'm just waiting for him to respond to my email and then I'll know

exactly what's happening. I've been asking him about it and hopefully when he gets a chance, he'll get back to me and I'll know. His contract is coming to an end in June next year I think and obviously they can't afford to lose him for free.

 

I don't feel any pressure about anything because if you put yourself under pressure in anything you do in football, you'll definitely fail. The pressure is always there in Bafana Bafana, but I can handle it. If I remember, I once told Soccer-Laduma that I'm willing to do anything, I'm willing to learn and these opportunities that I'm getting for Bafana...they're not for me to put myself under pressure. They're for me to learn and try to do my best whenever I'm given the chance. I won't say I won't be ready if given the

chance to step up and score for the country, but if the time arrives, then it means it's God's will and I'll have to step up. I'm up to the challenge! 

 

I'm still in contact with a lot of people here in South Africa and not one of them has been criticising me. They've been sending me constructive messages. They've been honest

with me. Most of all, I've been speaking with older people...grandmothers, people with families, and they've been guiding me. I mean, I can only be grateful for that. 

 

Tokelo Rantie,

Bafana Bafana 

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