Funny old game this football is. Just a few months ago, Darrel Matsheke's career seemed to have reached a crossroads. Armed only with a clearance, and a lingering sadness over how his stint with Kaizer Chiefs panned out, the question 'what next?' must have been echoing in his ears non-stop. As if to rescue him from the destructive nature of such pent-up emotions, ambitious Casric Stars, down in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, made their move. And just as acceptance of this downgrade to the second tier was starting to creep in, Stellenbosch FC crawled in from the blindside. Fortunately, he had not signed on the dotted line with the Mpumalanga outfit, and as logic would dictate, staying in the elite division made more sense. But should the midfielder not have handled this dilemma on a 'first come, first-served' basis? In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Masebe Qina, Matsheke reveals how he came to the decision, which has proved to pay off considering the success the club has enjoyed so far this season, notably winning the Carling Knockout last month. The 25-year-old also speaks with incredible honesty about why he didn't make it at the Glamour Boys!
Masebe Qina: Darrel, yours is such an interesting story in terms of how you ended up at Stellenbosch FC. Take us through the journey.
Darrel Matsheke: Thanks, grootman (big man), and yes, it's been an interesting one and I am just happy to be where I am and (with) how I was welcomed by everyone at the club from day one. About the interesting part of the story that you alluded to, before being signed la ekhaya (here at home), I had hoped for a deal at one or two other PSL (topflight) clubs, but things didn't go according to plan. Those are the clubs that showed interest in me, but they were telling me that they had already run out of time with their planning for the season. The thing is I received my clearance very late from my previous club, which is Kaizer Chiefs. Spending such a long time without a clearance in hand delayed me a bit and it wasn't possible for any of the clubs that were interested to sign me without it. It wasn't easy and that didn't sit well with me. I had returned from loan at Moroka Swallows but didn't get a chance to train with the first team and was waiting for the club to advise about my future when I learnt that I would be leaving.
MQ: Then came the Stellies deal just as you might have ended up playing in the second tier.
DM: That's why I am grateful to the club, and I was very happy when I realised that I would be signing with the club. I am enjoying myself at the club and I feel at home. I like the way they are treating me as one of their own and everything is done professionally. The way I am being treated here makes me feel very important as a professional. Just to give you the background of it… When I received the call from Stellenbosch, I was on the verge of signing with Casric Stars. (Takes a long pause) Eish, bekunzima (it was tough), grootman, and at that time I had already told myself that I was going to take any offer that came my way. I had already been training with Casric and that was my last option because all the other coaches from other clubs were telling me that they had already finalised their plans for the season and that it was too late to make changes to accommodate me. I received the call from Stellenbosch on the day I was supposed to be signing with Casric.
MQ: We are sure you couldn't believe your luck!
DM: True, I couldn't believe what was happening. To be honest, at first, I wasn't really sure what to do as I had already decided that I was going to sign with Casric. After training that day, I went straight home, instead of going to the office to sign, to break the news (about Stellenbosch) to my mother. My agent had already confirmed to me over the phone that he knew that Stellenbosch really wanted to sign me. Stellenbosch were coming to Jozi that week for the two games they had against (Orlando) Pirates and (Mamelodi) Sundowns respectively and the team was going to camp for that whole week to prepare for those two games. An agreement was reached for me to train with the team during that period. I impressed the coach (Steve Barker) after my first training session and I was told that I would be signing. That was after the team played against Pirates in the MTN8 and was preparing for the Sundowns game in the league. I was happy but at the same time felt bad about the Casric situation because I felt like I let them down. But they understood that I had been playing in this league and did well while with Swallows in the previous season, so it was only fair that I signed to remain in the league when there was a club willing to offer me another opportunity to continue.
MQ: Only fair indeed.
DM: I was so emotional when it was all happening. I was so emotional, but I didn't want to show it to everyone. My mother was very happy. The thing about my mother is that she isn't familiar with too many professional clubs, she only knows the popular ones. When I told her that I was training with Casric, she didn't seem to understand what was going on and she asked me too many questions. I had a lot of explanation to do as to who they are, where the club is from and all those things. But when things changed after I signed with Stellenbosch, she knew the club and there wasn't any explanation needed and instead she was very happy for me. I had my flight booked and (was) told to pack my bags and off I flew to Cape Town to start my journey at Stellenbosch FC.
MQ: Is that what inspired your performances?
DM: Yes, from the day I left Jozi knowing that I was coming to Stellenbosch to sign a contract, I told myself that I was coming here to work very hard and show commitment in whatever I do. I know how people think and I know that some have been watching me and seeing me as someone who didn't make it at Chiefs. That's for sure, and that's how some people think and we can't help it. When coming from Chiefs, there is always that thing of people judging you and I knew that I had to prove myself to show people what I have. But people forget that there are other factors that can contribute to a player not making the progress that he is expected to make. For example, here I'm not on loan and all that I need to do is to focus and do well.
MQ: How was your time at Naturena, as a matter of interest?
DM: Eish, about Chiefs… how can I put it? Let me just put it this way, I wasn't ready at Chiefs – that's all I can say for now. It ends right there for me and talking about my time with the team. If I was ready and the club felt that I was ready, then I would have gotten an opportunity to play more, so that's why I am saying what I say about my time with the team.
MQ: What did it feel like being part of such a massive side?
DM: It was great, and I was happy about being part of the set-up. I started in the MDC (MultiChoice, now DStv Diski Challenge), and I was there for one season and got promoted to the first team. I played in the topflight and I must say that I enjoyed the season I played under coach Gavin Hunt very much. He is the coach who understood me very well, I must say, and he was very fair. Because of coach Hunt, today I have a CAF (Champions League runners-up) medal. In my second season after promotion, I went on loan to Uthongathi FC, and when I came back, I went on another loan to Moroka Swallows.
MQ: Three months ago, would you have believed anyone who would have told you that you would go on to win the Carling Knockout with the Winelands side?
DM: Bengingekhe, bengizotshela lowo muntu ukuthi uyagula (I wouldn't have, I would have told that person that he or she is crazy), ha, ha, ha. I had my mind made up about getting myself ready to play for Casric and I wasn't thinking about any cup final at that time, so I wouldn't have thought about anything like that. I didn't have a job and had debts that needed to be paid and there is a child that needs to be taken care of. Those are the things I was thinking about at that time. Besides just supporting the child, there's also a family that depends on me. I was going to the club as a fresh start. I am not saying that I was expecting to be paid much, but I needed a deal just to play football and I knew that I would get another chance for topflight football next season. Luckily, my ancestors came through for me with the Stellies deal and I was happy.
MQ: What does it mean to have won a trophy with Stellies?
DM: It means a lot for us as a team. It's the first ever trophy that I've won as a professional footballer. I remember I came close to winning the CAF trophy with Chiefs and that's the only medal I have, and it serves as a motivation in whatever I do. Looking at it, this is history in the making for Stellenbosch as a football club because this is the first time that the club has won a cup competition. Also, I am happy that we are part of history as this cup competition is new (under current sponsors), and therefore winning it means writing our names in the history books. It will be in history books that Stellenbosch FC won the inaugural Carling Knockout and nobody can take that away from us. It means a lot.
MQ: All the best.
DM: Ngiyabonga (Thank you), grootman.
DARREL MATSHEKE FACT FILE
Full name: Darrel Mokgalo Matsheke
Date of birth: 4 January 1999
Place of birth: Chiawelo, Gauteng
Position: Midfielder
Jersey number: 5
Club: Stellenbosch FC
Previous clubs: Dlamini XI Experience (amateur), Witbank Spurs, Maritzburg United juniors, Kazier Chiefs juniors, Kaizer Chiefs, Uthongathi FC, Moroka Swallows (both on loan)
Honours: 2021 CAF Champions League runner-up (with Chiefs), 2023 Carling Knockout champion (with Stellenbosch)
