Ever wanted to be a fly on the wall in the changing rooms at Parktown? Well, now you can. Here are some of the dressing room secrets of the Pirates players, revealed by their very own colleagues…
Thabo Rakhale's Secret
Tlou Segolela: He Enjoys Football
"Ha, ha, ha, Jomo is one of those elusive guys and he can be very deceptive! He pretends to be shy, but get him around those he knows well and you will see just how crazy he can become. He's a good guy who is serious about his job. One thing about him is that he enjoys football. He always wants to have the ball on his feet. That makes him happy. He always tries to do something new at training, even during the warm-up, and, like I said, he's a really good guy. You will always find him in the company of Kamo Mabuya and the other young guys."
Siyabonga Mpontshane's Secret
Former teammate Patrick Malokase: I Call Him 'Ntate Moloi'
"Ha, ha, ha, honestly, Mpontshane is a quiet guy who likes to call everyone he meets 'Lion'. The rest of the guys also call him 'Lion' and I'm the only one who calls him 'Ntate Moloi'... you know, from the television series Zone 14. Ha, ha, ha! As a senior player, he doesn't mind me calling him that, but if it was any of the young guys, he would fight them, ha, ha, ha. Most of the time he calls me to help him 'punish' the youngsters for using that name by making them do push-ups. Even if we are on the bus or in a meeting, they will have to do push-ups as punishment and I have to play my role, ha, ha, ha."
Lucky Lekgwathi's Secret
Former teammate Daine Klate: He's Always The First At Training
"I call him Bra Lucky because that guy is old, hey! Ha, ha, ha! Lucky is a good leader, a good captain and someone who has been in the game for years. He's a really good guy – humble and with a great work ethic. Lucky is always the first at training. Even when you think you have arrived early, you will still find him there. And he will always be the last one to leave. He is really dedicated to his game, which is why he is still going strong at his age."
Lehlohonolo Majoro's Secret
Lucky Lekgwathi: He Doesn't See Them As A Threat
"Major is a great guy... we all know that everyone named Lehlohonolo is good. You need to spend time with someone in order to really get to know them and I'm saying this because the Majoro I knew when he was at Kaizer Chiefs and the one I know now are two completely different people. I remember in one Soweto Derby I kicked 'Yeye' by mistake and Majoro had a go at me about it. I simply told him, "You're next!" and indeed he was next, ha, ha, ha! At training recently, he kicked me and, instead of apologising, he said, 'Remember the Soweto derby? It is pay-back time!' Ha, ha, ha! We laughed about it. Since he joined us, I've realised that he is such a cool guy and a great teammate. He always wants to see people happy and you will always find him joking and laughing with everyone, especially the strikers. He doesn't see them as a threat or competition, but as his teammates and brothers. He is such an unselfish and down-to-earth guy who always listens to advice, and he's not scared to ask when he's unsure."
Lennox Bacela's Secret
Former Teammate Thulasizwe Mbuyane: He's A Great Team Player
"During our time together at Pirates, Lennox was a quiet guy who always was on time for training. He'd also stay behind to do extra work on things like finishing with our goalkeepers and some of the other guys. He really likes his job and takes it seriously. He's a hard worker and a very humble and down-to-earth footballer. He's a great team player and, when you speak about professional footballers, you can't leave Bacela's name out. During the little time I spent with him at Pirates, Bacela was one of the guys whom everyone would enjoy working with. He's a really great guy and obviously a clinical striker."
Ayanda Gcaba's Secret
Happy Jele: I've Never Seen Him Dancing
"Ayanda is a great guy – a cool guy and a great teammate. He is full of jokes, but when it is time to work, he is always very serious. He really shows that hunger to succeed. He always listens to advice and is not scared to ask if he doesn't understand something. He also likes to see his teammates happy and he acknowledges everybody in the team. What I like about him is his sense of humour. He likes to listen to House music, but the funny thing is that I have never seen him dancing."
Which is your favourite secret here?
