The DStv Premiership is back and I must say we really missed watching our local teams in action. The last round of fixtures pleased some, while others were left frustrated by their teams' performance. Having a mid-season break will always be a challenge because it breaks your momentum, especially if you were doing well and enjoying good results. However, on paper, this is an opportunity to work on your shortcomings if you've not been doing well, but when the games resume, people are always looking to see whether you took advantage of the break or not. It helps some, while it hinders others, so it just depends on which side of the fence do you find yourself.
Doc answers your questions…
Please don't forget to send your questions to editor@soccerladuma.co.za for now, until further notice.
Gavin Ryan is asking if it is not the assistant referee's duty to ensure that the ball is correctly positioned when players are taking a corner kick?
Obviously, this is on the back of what happened in the league match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, where both teams played a corner kick from outside of the demarcated spot. This is something the assistant referees should be looking at, together with the referee because it is important that we all stick to the FIFA Fair Play. When we are not on top of our game, as match officials, players will always look to take advantage of the situation like it happened on Saturday night.
Danny Moreo wants to know what was my moment of the tournament and which team really impressed me?
The whole tournament was a massive surprise and a brilliant moment because it was so unpredictable. I was impressed by a number of teams, including our own Bafana Bafana and Cape Verde, because they really performed beyond expectations.
Being Doc
You always need to reflect on your career or life. Think about the stalwarts that were there before you and how they paved the way for you, so that you can do the same for those coming after you. That's what being a role model is all about because you can't ask a plumber about football matters when you want to play the Beautiful Game. For life in general, yes, you can get advice from anyone, but a career advice is something different.
Coaches I've worked with: His belief in me inspired me
I always hear people say "Captain my Captain" when they are talking about their team's captain. It sounds so sweet and mellow, but I just want to know if this title applies to every captain or are there any qualities we look at before using the title? If the results, leadership, performances, behaviour and setting an example are some of the qualities looked at before using the title, then I can use it to describe or call Neil Tovey. This is a man who captained me at both club and national team level. It gives me goosebumps, pride and joy to talk about Neil. I happened to have an opportunity to play with both the Tovey brothers, Mark and Neil, with the former playing as a centre-back, while the latter was a central midfielder. It was after Mark left that Neil was converted to a central defender. Off the field, you are talking about a very humble individual who is always easy to approach. A gentleman of note and someone who is always good company. He enjoys jokes and he is also very wise with some great advice. If you get to spend time with Neil, listen to his advice and archive it, trust me you will have a great life and career. It is the same with his brother, Mark, because they are very similar in everything they do. The tough fighters you saw on the field were completely different to who they are off the field because they are so gentle. Back to Neil – he is a perfectionist and you will have a problem with him if you don't execute your duties perfectly. He doesn't have to be a captain to lead and when he reprimands a teammate, you hear the message he's sending across and it does something to you. The leadership is not done in an aggressive manner – no, he's all calm about it but firm enough to get your attention. He doesn't just address what is happening now but opening your eyes to the future as well. The reason I have so much praise for this man is because of everything I have seen from him. Most of the cup games we won, I'd like to believe, his guidance played a major role in our success because he was the eyes and ears of the coach on the field. Not a single coach can complain about having Neil as a player and captain, because he always delivered and remained professional. What comes out of Neil's mouth will motivate everyone, especially when the chips are down. You'd hear him shouting to me, "Doc, we need you, boy! Now the team really needs you and you need to show up. Ace, come on, boy! Chippa (Molatedi), come on, please, boy!" and he'd do that with everyone. We had our ups and downs at club and national team level with Neil and he always showed leadership qualities on both ends of the spectrum. Some people only start to appreciate guys like Neil's leadership after hanging up their boots because they look back and realise if Tovey had not inspired them in a particular game, things would have probably not gone well. If Neil had not insisted on me taking that penalty against Cameroon in 1992, I wouldn't be in the record books as the first ever South African player to score for Bafana after our readmission into the international arena. We all stood there for a while, scared to take that penalty, and Neil came while myself, Philemon Masinga, Bennet Masinga (may their souls rest in peace), Ace Khuse and Zane Moosa were still deliberating about who was going to take it. Neil just said, "Doc, this is your penalty. Go take it." The rest is history, as they say. I never thanked him for that because if he hadn't instructed me to take that penalty, I wouldn't have touched the ball at all. I would have walked away from the 'scene', but his belief in me inspired me to go out there and get the job done. I will always cherish that moment, which is one of many. Even after our retirement, we remain close. You've been a great captain and I don't think you've been celebrate enough.
Doc's memory bank: The memory etched in my mind
The moment I will never forget, when the going was getting tough, in the 1996 Afcon, Neil showed up. It was 0-0 in the final against Tunisia and when we walked through the tunnel for the second half, Neil came to me and said, "This is the time we need you the most, Doc. You need to dance!" No one could have prepared us for that championship, but through the leadership from government, SAFA, coach Clive Barker and his technical team, Neil as our captain, the players and the nation fully behind us, we made history. Neil was our coach on the field because he worked hand-in-hand with coach Clive. They both just told me not to worry about defending and focus on creating chances and win the team the trophy. That's the memory that is still etched in my mind. Another memory, I remember in one Soweto Derby Thabang Lebese (may his soul rest in peace) started playing to the gallery around the 80th minute, with us leading. He lost possession, in the process, but luckily it resulted in our throw-in. You should have seen Neil running from his central defence position across the field to the right-hand side, where Thabang was, and he told him, "The game is not over until the final whistle. Come on, man! What if you lose possession and these guys go on and score?" That's how strict Neil was on the field and he was always aware of the critical phases of the game. His leadership is second to none. Even if we are in the final, if he gets a chance to address the team, he will leave you so motivated and ready to take on the world. He would reprimand us whenever he felt we were not pulling our weight because he was not just about motivating us. He was always a father-figure to all of us and a good example of a family man because he loved his wife, kids and the whole family so much. I was lucky to be captained by guys like Neil, Steve Komphela, Lucas Radebe and Brian Baloyi, to mention just four, and you'd really feel their presence and leadership. These guys made me realise what it means and takes for one to be a captain, which is why I asked the question I asked earlier about the tag "Captain my Captain".
Doc's Friend Zone
Neil, off the field, is a very jovial guy and someone who really enjoys a good time with friends. As mentioned earlier, he's full of jokes and will make fun of everything around him. He had moments where he would be laughing and adding fuel to the fire whenever there was an opportunity to make fun of someone. A very funny guy and whenever I meet up or just call him, it is always a special moment. We are currently busy with projects that are aimed at empowering other coaches, to show them the ropes before they start undergoing the coaching courses. We are on the verge of getting one of the most exciting football projects off the ground. I'm pretty sure the whole country will be proud when they finally get to hear about it. If everything goes according to plan, that's going to be a gamechanger and you better watch this space! Neil is always there for me and he knows he will always remain my Skipper. Neil is a very strong character, but it always breaks my heart when we are mourning one of our former teammates because it really hits him hard. "Doc, our Class of '96 is perishing and it is so sad to see." Those are his words almost every time we have to bury one of our own. I remember the last time was when we laid our leader and coach, Clive, to rest. But life goes on. The fire is still burning between all of us and that's partly because of Neil's leadership and guidance. He remains our captain to this day. I really appreciate everything you've done for me, Mokoko.
