What a weekend of football! Let me start by congratulating Mamelodi Sundowns on their massive come-from-behind 3-2 aggregate win against Wydad Casablanca in the two-legged African Football League final at the packed Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday. It was history in the making for the Brazilians and they truly deserved the victory. The Soweto Derby was another interesting spectacle with Orlando Pirates bagging the bragging rights against Kaizer Chiefs, courtesy of a solitary goal from Evidence Makgopa at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Congratulations and tough luck to Amakhosi.
Doc Answers Your Questions
Please don't forget to send your questions to editor@ soccerladuma.co.za for now, until further notice.
Gavin Ryan wants to know about the role of assistant referees during the penalty shoot-out as he feels goalkeepers get away with coming out of their line before the ball is kicked by the taker, which is something that should be flagged by the assistants, who are standing in a better position to see it than the referee.
Honestly, it happens a lot and something that we should definitely look into because, like you said, the best people to see the goalkeeper's movement are the assistants more than the referee in such cases.
Danny Moreo wants to know my views on the whole Janine Van Wyk situation, where she missed out on two caps that would elevate her into being the most-capped national team player, both male and female, in the continent and the controversy that followed it.
I believe this should have been handled better.
Being Doc
Life is full of surprises and that's why we always have to be in the moment. You might think something or someone isn't important, only for that person or thing to play a major impact in your life at a later stage. Certain things will happen and turn out to be the best thing to ever happen to you. That's why you have to stay alert and focused all the time because life is full of surprises.
Coaches I've worked with: Mr Langa gave me a big hiding!
Guys, I think I need to explain something here. This section is where I am talking about coaches I have worked with, but some of these coaches I never got to work with, although I was lucky enough to cross paths with and learn from them. Some of these guys are life coaches, who played a significant role in my life and career off the field. So, I don't want you to think of coaches as just those I was on television with because there's more to coaching than just issuing instructions to players. One such person is the Black Leopards Chairman, David Thidiela. I'm sure a lot of people have no idea how far back I come with Mr David Thidiela. The mere mention of this man's name gives me goosebumps because he's one of those I regard as a father-figure to me. Bra Dave knows me as much as Dr. Kaizer Motaung because I literally grew right in front of him. I was still a toddler when this man came into my life, very young, and he was the Kaizer Chiefs chief security at the time. I used to go to the stadium by train, taxi or bus to meet with my dad and the whole team at Orlando Stadium. As young as I was, I would be received by Bra Dave at the stadium and, unlike today, teams were not driving in one bus to the stadium. They used my dad's and Zacharia Lamola's kombis to travel to games. You see those two cars pulling into the stadium and we all flocked to them because we wanted to see our superheroes. The Chiefs security guys would carry sticks and use all the possible security measures to block us from getting too close to the players.
One of the security guys, Mr Richard Langa, gave me a big hiding, not knowing I was my dad's son! I went there, knowing very well that there was an arrangement between my dad and ntate Thidiela, but Bra Richard didn't know about it, let alone know I was "Pro" Khumalo's son. He thought I was one of the kids who were just trying to force their way, but Bra Dave, upon realising what had happened, was so upset with him. "Do you know whose son is this? Why not ask what's going on if you don't know?" Eish, it was hectic, and Bra Richards retorted, "But the instruction was not to let anyone get close to the players." Eish, that man really beat me and Bra Dave was not impressed at all and he told Bra Richard who I was and the arrangement that was between him and my father. From that day, Bra Dave and I became even closer and he would visit my home and tell me where to find him if I was going to the stadium. Look, I know this man as a family friend through my dad, and someone who took care of me whenever I went to the stadium. He was very close with my dad. I was shocked to learn that this man was starting his own club, Black Leopards, and my heart was so sad because I always associated him with Chiefs – then, boom! He was no longer there and started his own club. A part of me was obviously happy for him, but it took me a while to get used to him being away from the team. What an achievement because from security to club owner is not child's play. The difference his team made in people's lives in Limpopo is immense Whenever we went to play Leopards away, he would remind everyone, "This is my son. This is my boy!" Some people would be surprised because they didn't know our history and he would explain everything to them. He would then tell me, "Hey son, you know where we come from, so please take it easy against my team", and then we would laugh about it. Thank you for everything you've done for me, Bra Dave – I really appreciate it. You've been a part of my life since we met when I was still a toddler, to this day, and I am equally proud of your achievements. Because he made sure I was seated in a comfortable position in the stadium, Bra Dave unwittingly planted a seed for me to want to be like those players and do what they were doing, one day. Look at what happened since then! I hope I have made you proud, Bra Dave! May God give you more life and make sure that Leopards is back in the elite league. Thank you for everything you've done for me.
Doc's memory bank: You can imagine how that felt
At some stage, there was a Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at the Orlando Stadium. During the week, Bra Dave visited our home the Thursday before the game and my dad told him I was going to be at the stadium. He asked him to please do as he always did, make sure I was comfortable and safe because there were going to be a lot of people. We arranged the time I was going to get to the stadium, as usual, and I got to the stadium before the two kombis and Bra Dave kept me inside the dressing room. There was a silver gate at Orlando that was not easy to open at all. You needed serious manpower because it was so heavy and it was the only gate used by the teams to get into the match venue. From that gate, you go down the tunnel to the change rooms, then you get the away team's dressing room on your right. This was at the old Orlando Stadium. You can imagine how that felt because the supporters were buzzing outside with the venue packed to the rafters already. I really felt and observed the atmosphere. Can you see how life can turn out? Look at me and Mr Thidiela and see how much we've grown since then.
Doc's Friend Zone
When Bra Dave became the Chairman of Leopards, nothing changed about our relationship. To this day, that man has never changed because he remained that humble security guard I grew up under at Chiefs and never became too big to associate with people, just because he now holds a big office and owns a club. With me, he remained the very same person I knew back then because he had become more than just a father-figure but a friend and someone I could always talk to whenever I needed advice. For me to call him a friend just goes to show the impact he's had in my life because he is old enough to be my father. The football conversations we would have when he drove me home were out of this world because he always analysed the team's performance and highlighted the importance of making our supporters happy. That became one of the things I always focused on throughout my career.
