Actor Ontshiametse Molekoa, who plays the role of 'Pharaoh' on telenova The River, is one of many with a heavy heart after Mamelodi Sundowns were knocked out of the CAF Champions League, but there are many other reasons to smile as a die-hard supporter of the Tshwane giants.
Soccer Laduma caught up with the Molekoa, who has explained how he chose to stick with his mother as a Sundowns supporter, rather than go follow his dad's club, Kaizer Chiefs.
Firstly, talk to us about how you felt after Sundowns were knocked out of the CAF Champions League this past weekend, especially because they were so close to reaching the final?
I don't even know where to start. It's a lesson and we learned. It's okay. It's mistakes that cost us the CAF competition. Everybody saw it. We were leading the semi-final. Defend. Why do you want to attack? It's okay, we can defend. You can bring in Grant Kekana, bring in Bongani Zungu and he can slow down the game. But, it's a lesson and it's life. It's football. I am still excited that we reached the semi-finals and I still believe we are closer more than ever (to winning it). I believe we will bring it home.
Moving on to more positive things. How did you celebrate when Sundowns won the DStv Premiership title?
I was at the stadium. I waited for the team to lift the trophy and I think we were the last ones to leave because we stayed there until the end. My friends and I went out, but some of them are not Mamelodi Sundowns supporters, so I was the one who decided where we would go to celebrate. We went bowling. I was with Vuyo Biyela and some of my other friends. We also had a braai as well. That's how we celebrated the league title.
Would you say this was the best league-winning season for Sundowns, or is there another one which stands out for you?
Would I say this is the best? I think in terms of winnings, yes. In terms of the way we played, I'd say yes. We play better football, but there are other seasons where we started off slow. We did not start well. I think it was 2013/14, where we were saved by Antony Laffor. Pitso Mosimane was our head coach. Why I say it's special is because of how we started the season. We started on a very bad note, but it's how we bounced back that made it special. We ended up winning the league. That was special.
Who were your stand out performers this season for Sundowns?
It has to be everyone in the squad. I will not take that away from anyone. Because everybody was given an opportunity to play. Everybody has improved at Sundowns and that's why I have to take my hat off to the squad. They have all improved and that's why I say they all stood out for me.
Who is your all-time favourite Sundowns player?
It's a bit tricky. I am going to at least have to give you four names. If it's not Gift Leremi, it has to be Surprise Moriri. And if it's not Surprise, it has to be Hlompho Kekana. And if it's not Bra Hlompho, then it's Themba Zwane (laughs).
If you could bring back one player from the past to play in the current Sundowns team, who would it be?
I'd most definitely bring Teko Modise back. I'd love to see him playing with such hard working players and I just feel like he would click in the system now. That's how Teko used to play. He was a different breed. He would navigate and move the ball quickly. I'd love to see that number 10 coming in and playing with the likes of Themba Zwane, Sipho Mbule, Teboho Mokoena, Mothobi Mvala and Khuliso Mudau. I'd love to see him playing with those guys.
When and how did you start supporting Sundowns?
I was raised by my mom and dad. My mom is a Sundowns supporter and my dad supports Kaizer Chiefs. Honestly, the first thing I remember about how I started supporting Sundowns, is that there was a league decider playing at Odi Stadium. Sundowns were playing against Pirates (2005/06). It was the last game to ever be played at Odi Stadium in Mabopane. I was young and I was with my mom. I always watched football and I'd hear my mom talking about Sundowns and my dad on Kaizer Chiefs. I didn't really have a team then. Going to the stadium, I saw the love and culture of Mamelodi Sundowns. I saw how they play and the energy they had and how they treated their supporters. They brought out artists to perform. I remember seeing DJ Cleo for the first time. I think I was five or six. I was like 'wow, this team is giving back to the people'. I was also impressed with the style of play. Since then, I never looked back. I was like 'dad, now I see the difference and I am going with mom'. My brother supports Sundowns and my sister supports Chiefs. In my family, it's only two teams. It's Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns. My dad and sister are not happy now as Chiefs fans.
How often do you go to the stadium and what would you say you love about being there?
I go to every home game and some away games. I can't go to some away games due to work. I am an actor, so it requires a lot of time to be on set, so I can't be traveling far away, when I have to shoot on set the following day at 5am. I make sure that I am there for every home game. What I love about being at the stadium is the energy. Mamelodi Sundowns has brought families together in Pretoria. I am happy to see people from different areas coming to the stadium and holding hands and chanting for one team. It unites us. That's why I love being at the stadium, to unite with the rest of my people. Some of them are even from other countries. They come and greet. You get someone who says they have traveled from Namibia to see certain players, so it's nice. I also love how Sundowns value their supporters. They bring entertainment and make sure you don't sleep at the stadium. When it's half time, there is a performance. There's public figures who are at the stadium, so I genuinely love that. I give a special shoutout to Zanele Mathe. She takes care of everyone at Sundowns, like the artists coming in. She is very friendly, so I'd like to give her a shoutout.
