As a player, Ayanda Gcaba meant different things to different people – to some, a defender that needed some improvement in certain areas of his game, especially turning out for a big side such as Orlando Pirates, and to others, a fantastic talent. It is something he would have learnt to take in his stride during a decent career that spanned over 15 years. Free State Stars is where it began, and at the age of 36, having gulped to his heart's content from the cup of professional football and all the challenges it came with, the Port Shepstone-born man has decided to stop playing, as revealed by the Siya crew recently. Just as well, coaching has come calling, with Gcaba having taken up a role in the Randburg AFC youth set-up where he will look to help develop future stars at the Johannesburg-based club. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Delmain Faver, the former tough tackler talks about the transition, shares what's missing in the Soweto Derby and reveals who his best coach was.
Delmain Faver: Ayanda, good catching up with you. It was just over two months ago when you were still campaigning in the ABC Motsepe League with Limpopo-based Emmanuel FC, so you can understand why it was a shock for most to hear that you have retired. What was the reason behind your silent exit from the game?
Ayanda Gcaba: I've been a quiet person, it's just that I never went out to say that I'm retiring. I just said lemme just retire because I felt my time has come. Our generation played and did everything and now it's time to say let's sit back and do other things, let the next generation take over. But if we are called to say, 'Come and help and assist with the kids', then that's what we have to do because we've been through this game, we know how it is. So, it's for us to guide now and say, 'Don't do this, don't do that. If you want to reach here, you have to do that', so we are here to do that.
DF: You have enjoyed a satisfactory career that has seen you feature for Bafana Bafana. You also reached an incredible eight finals with Orlando Pirates, albeit winning just one. Looking back at your career, are there any regrets?
AG: Actually, I don't have any regrets hey because I'm one person that was not into football, but I was introduced to football, I loved it and I just grabbed it with both hands and then I went with it. I never thought that I would be professional one day. My goals and everything were focused on one thing, but then it shifted to football. But I am grateful and I am happy that I went through this journey because I've seen others go through it like I went through it. For me, it was better because I had people who were there for me, supporting me and doing everything. They told me to go all out and see how things go for me because you don't know where you're gonna reach in life. I turned professional when I was still young, at the age of 20 or 21. For others, it takes longer; for others, it's less, but I was fortunate to play while I was still young.
DF: Talk to us about the highlights of your career.
AG: For me, the first one is signing for Free State Stars while I was still young, having a few nice seasons there, and then the biggest one was going to Pirates, joining a team with such big names. Then after that, it was just about enjoying football and enjoying what the journey brought and the people that I was with. I shared a change room with a lot of great players and I never thought I would share a room with them because they were top players. At that time, I was still young and looking up to them, but when I got the chance to play with them, it was something else. It was a good experience.
DF: Now, we know you as a steely defender who took no prisoners. How does coach Gcaba differ from Gcaba the footballer?
AG: I hope that I share my experience with the kids because being a player and being a coach are two different things, so I don't think it's gonna be that hard, it's just the things that we are gonna be doing and all that. But for me, it's all the same because as a player, I've played, I've seen, I've done, so now it's time for me to take what I've done in my years and try to implement it with these small kids and for them to try and say that we have to act and do things professionally so that by the time you reach there, you are all good. The only thing you have to do is go out there and perform, do your best because you know when you work, you work for yourself, you work for your family and your teammates.
DF: A lot of guys, once they hang up the boots, lose interest in the game. Has this been the case with you?
AG: I do follow local football. I do follow Pirates here and there. I do follow (Mamelodi) Sundowns and a lot of other teams, how they play, what they do, the coaches and all that. So, I would say I do that a lot.
DF: What have you made of the current footballing landscape? As things stand, Sundowns appear to be the most dominant force, while Kaizer Chiefs and Pirates seem to be lagging behind…
AG: You know how teams are, they don't do things the same way, but Sundowns have been exceptional. Their work is just off the park, it's different, the players, and you know how Chiefs and Pirates are. But how you run the team is different and the mentality of the players and the hunger that they have, I would say that Sundowns are way up there. The other guys are still following, but they will get there, it's just that they will have to work very hard to reach Sundowns because, for me, Sundowns is still gonna be ruling for the next five years… even more. They sign so many quality players, who give them what the team needs in order to grow. That's what Sundowns are doing, they're bringing every good player. Even though some of them are not playing, when they do get the chance, they do their best and the next person is out. So, whoever is playing sticks there. That's what the other teams should be doing, bringing in all the best players. You see the youth players now that are coming up, they should also look up to those players and say, "For me to reach there, I still have to work hard." Because we can't say we introduce players to the first team for a season and you think you have made it and you are there when you haven't done anything. It means now that you have been introduced to the first team, you have to work 10 times as hard to reach their level because for them to have reached that, they had to work hard.
DF: Jabu Mahlangu was very critical of the most recent Soweto Derby, blasting the players for showing a lack of desire and disappointing their fans. As someone who has featured in a number of derbies in the past, what do you think?
AG: I managed to catch a glimpse of it, but the way they played, the intensity… I don't know. It's there, but there's something that is lacking. I wish both teams could notice it, but a Soweto Derby is different to any other game and everyone knows it – even they know it! Because there, you have to bring your A-game, but what I saw in the derby, it was like it was half-half, they are not going all out. And it's not only for you but also for the fans. The fans can't say, "I went to see a derby and I saw what I wanted to see." Most of them want to see goals, they want to see beautiful football, but what they displayed, it's like they went half-and-half, like they are still testing each other, although they've seen each other and played each other numerous times. When it's a derby, you must go all out. But I hope they do better, even though Chiefs won with that lucky header (own goal) from Olisa Ndah. But at the end of the day, it was a derby, there was good football, but next time I hope they bring their A-game.
Gcaba On The Transition Football Easter Tournament Draw
"I think it's something good that is being done. It is a tough draw because all the teams are tough, and I know it's their first annual tournament and obviously we are just focusing on the kids. They have to play and grow up knowing how to do things professionally and I think it's gonna be a great tournament. I'm just happy to be here, to be representing Randburg, and I hope that every team does their best and at the end of the tournament we see who the champ is."
Gcaba tackles quickfire questions
Most talented player I played with: Mpho Makola. I'm still fighting over Andile Jali and Oupa Manyisa. They were a good combo. Noah Chivuta, for me, is one person that worked hard, even though a lot of people underestimated him in terms of his work rate and the way he was. He was not the fastest, but he could think on the ball. He had good vision.
Most disciplined teammate: Manti Moholo. I played with him at Free State Stars and Pirates. He doesn't do much, he doesn't talk that much, but you could feel his presence. He is one person you listen to and get something out of whenever he speaks.
Laziest teammate: Reuben Cloete. That guy was the laziest guy with the most talent, but he will give you something that one. He was a player that was, for me, the best left back. Even though he was lazy, he put in the work… when he wanted to… but otherwise he was lazy!
Striker that gave me a tough time: Mabhudi Khenyeza. He is a lion that guy. He would fight. He wouldn't make the defenders relax, so we had to be on our toes at all times.
Player I wish I'd played with: Old-John Mabizela. I saw him at Pirates, he went overseas. At least in the national team I was in the squad with him. I shared a room with him and we had those chats about football and life. I learned a few things from him. It's just that I never had the opportunity to play with him.
Coach that got the best out of me: Steve Komphela. He was the person that actually made me to play when he was at Free State Stars because my first season was frustrating and I almost wanted to give up. When he came along, he changed my mind and made me to see football in a different way, you know, to say that you have to be a fighter because football is football. If you don't have heart in this game, you'll end up just giving up and not actually achieving what you want to achieve in life. I owe him everything.
Best game I played: I've got a couple, especially in Africa. When I started out, there were doubts whether I could play, but a lot of players fought for me to play in the team because at that time things were just up and down in terms of the team, the defence and all that because you had your Rooi Mahamutsa, Happy Jele, Lucky Lekgwathi, Siyabonga Sangweni. A lot of quality players that were there at the back, so I had to fight to earn my spot in the team. I scored against Chiefs. I had scored before, but I'd never scored that kind of a goal with the head, you know. So, for me, it was one of those games, it's a derby and when given a chance, you have to bring your A-game and on the day, we brought our A-game and fought for each other. When I scored in the derby, against Itumeleng Khune, SA's number one, I was happy and we won the game and I was over the moon because I never thought I'd score in the derby.
Funniest player I played with: Ha, ha, obvious… Thamsanqa Gabuza. Character! One person that is always happy. He likes to make players laugh and wants to see other players happy.
AYANDA GCABA FACT FILE
Full name: Ayanda Oscar Gcaba
Date of birth: 8 March 1986
Place of birth: Port Shepstone, KZN
Position: Defender
Previous clubs: Free State Stars, Platinum Stars, Orlando Pirates, Royal Eagles, Jomo Cosmos, Sinenkani FC, Emmanuel FC
Honours: 2013/14 Nedbank Cup runner-up, 2013 MTN8 runner-up, 2013 CAF Champions League runner-up, 2015 CAF Confederation Cup runner-up, 2014 MTN8 runner-up, 2015/16 Nedbank Cup runner-up, 2016/17 Nedbank Cup runner-up, (all with Pirates), 4 Bafana Bafana caps
