Kamohelo Mokotjo, by his own admission, is not your typical South African player. If you are looking for shibobos, tsamayas and show-me-your-numbers, then he's the wrong player for you. Rather, he has been seen as an orchestrator, one who conducts and quietly goes about his job while those around him flourish. It is perhaps this reason that has seen him forge a fantastic career abroad in the Netherlands, England and the USA. It is little wonder then that his return to South Africa was met with much fanfare, even if he was linked with a move to one of the Big Three, Kaizer Chiefs in particular. The 32-year-old has settled in comfortably at Sekhukhune United, who, according to the Odendaalsrus-born star, gave him what he was looking for in his next move. Soccer Laduma's Delmain Faver caught up with the pass master to discuss his return to the country, his time abroad and how a chance meeting with Zinedine Zidane set him up for a great career.
Delmain Faver: Kamo, your career has been extraordinary in the sense that you were touted for greatness at the age of 12 by none other than Zinedine Zidane. Did that place pressure on you to forge a great career?
Kamohelo Mokotjo: Meeting legends like that, whether it's Zinedine Zidane or any other legend, because I've met a lot, it does put a lot of pressure on you to go on and stand again and maintain what you are doing. So, yeah, it does, but I don't know… only God knows why He wired me this way and I'm just who I am and I always stay this way. But I'm very grateful for meeting those types of people because they've created a hunger in me for the game that will always stay and I'm really grateful for those moments.
DF: In recent media interviews, you said you are not the 'typical South African' player and that has proven to almost be the catalyst that sets you apart, but do you think that has also counted as a disadvantage because you might come across as misunderstood to your 'typical South African' coach?
KM: Of course, the way I play is a bit more flexible, more of a thinker, I see the puzzles in front of me, which are the players, and I like to put them in place, motivate them at times and fix things so that when we get to game time or matchday, things go smoother. Yeah, it could be misunderstood, but I'm flexible when it comes to tactics. I try to see the bigger picture when it comes to winning a game of football. Of course, that will get misunderstood because maybe it feels to the public or to coaches that we don't get this type of player, you know. But I'm about results, I'm about effectiveness and I really know myself to the core, so I stick to what's important to me, I stick to what I can do best and I think those are my greatest strengths.
DF: You started out at the SuperSport United Academy, went to Europe and then USA, where you played at a high level. Was coming back to Mzansi part of the plan?
KM: I considered all my options; you know what I mean? I had an injury track record that was not in my favour, especially at my age… I wouldn't say in Europe, but in South Africa, because they consider you old while you are still young and young when you are at a mature age. So, I considered all my options and I was like I need to get a good feeling from somebody and there was Europe. Of course, my injuries made it difficult. It's not something that I've given up on, so yeah, so I decided to play here and there were a bit of… Like I said in the media, it was a bit politicized, me coming back, but all I wanted to do was play football again, get a good feeling from a club and I got that from Sekhukhune and I'm happy. I don't want anything else but to play football to the best of my ability and to prove to myself that I'm still the best version of Kamo or I can still get to the best version of Kamo and I think that will be, for me, a lifelong hunt while I'm still playing professional football.
DF: You come from a rich group of talent, many of whom have excelled in Europe. Do you think that we are still producing that same level of quality players?
KM: I think we're still producing, yeah, but are our players being given the opportunity to go out of their comfort zones to join European clubs? I think no. I mean, players have different paths and they can get there in different ways, so I think in South Africa it's just a matter of waiting and seeing instead of exporting as many players to Europe as possible at the moment. So, I don't know how to feel about it because I'm from a different generation and a lot is money-based at the moment. So, I hope in the end that it leads to results that can influence the South African national team in a good way. I was on the inside and I could see everything, but no, I'm just a player at the moment, but I do hope for more players to be exported to Europe. It would be great because we have the talent. We are short of nothing. We currently have the resources to build a European-based, solid player. So, I hope that starts to change and we'll see. I don't know what the factors that are influencing that not to happen in that way are, but I hope that changes actually.
DF: You say that so much is money based. Do you think the fact that PSL teams have caught up to lower European leagues in terms of remuneration is a contributing factor to players not wanting to go abroad as much?
KM: No, man, listen, when it comes to my generation, I think sometimes people remember when they want to that I'm 32, you know, and people forget when they want to that I'm 32. So, I'm saying, when it comes to my generation, we never thought about money, you know. It was always about the dream. So, I think for every single professional, every single kid in the townships or anywhere else, it should always be about the dream. Yeah, it should always be about the dream.
DF: You left the PSL in 2008/09, and a lot has changed since then. What were your initial observations of the level of the league?
KM: When it comes to the PSL level, obviously there is still a lot more to improve on. It reminds me of the MLS in a way – very athletic, all over the place, but I mean, what we are doing at the club is quite different. We play a system, I think, that nobody else plays and it makes it easier for players to understand their roles and to adapt to it. So yeah, that's credit to the technical staff and the club for choosing such a coach (Brandon Truter).
DF: What are your thoughts on Bafana Bafana?
KM: Obviously, they have their visions for certain periods of time and the young players were brought in. I mean, our crop that was there when I was still at Bafana, I think they're only peaking now. But yeah, things are done different here compared to other countries and that's that. But we have a lot of talented players in the national team and hopefully things come together, but there is a new coach for the national team and the stable factor in that team is other players too who play in the PSL that are in that starting line-up. So I must say, the PSL is improving, but yeah, hopefully SAFA and Bafana Bafana just find the correct balance, especially going into Afcon.
DF: Having represented your country 23 times, does that fire still burn to play for the national team?
KM: For me, I don't close any doors. It's important to keep an open mind but also to stick to what I know. Obviously, not being the obvious South African player, I play more effectively and choose my moments, I control my teammates in situations, make sure that things flow within the team. I know my role. But yeah, I'm not closing any doors on anything. What I'm doing right now is working hard to stay fit, to stay healthy and to keep progressing and level up. That's the most important thing, stay as professional as I can.
DF: When you came in, obviously you were lacking a bit of match fitness. Where would you say you now are in terms of fitness level?
KM: No, I'm not 100% yet. The coach knows that, I said it to him too. I'm maybe on 80% or 85%, so there's still a lot more room to grow fitness-wise. But yeah, knowing myself, I'm never satisfied and I also feel like I haven't peaked yet, I'm a 32-year-old in the body of a 28-year-old. I feel there's a lot more to come.
DF: How important is the 'senior player' role for you at Sekhukhune United?
KM: You know, they learn as much from me as I learn from them, let's start there. Obviously, they need guidance and leadership, but they are players with potential and somebody needs to make think in general, whether it's football or life, I'm just that person. I mean, for me, it's just a normal thing. I think whether it's being at Excelsior, Feyenoord, PEC Zwolle, FC Twente, Brentford, Cincinnati, it's just been about standards. Maintaining my standards, taking care of the 11 that I have on the pitch, the 18 that are in the selection, helping the team where I can, you know. I love this game and I'm passionate about it. I keep chasing the feeling of learning, doing better, so that's very important to me and hopefully I can make a lifelong contribution to this sport because I love it so much.
DF: Lastly, one of your former clubs, Brentford, has become an English Premier League mainstay. Does it give you a sense of pride to know that the team made that step up after you left?
KM: Yeah, it gives me a sense of pride that I played for the club, but also, I know the people there, I know how professional they are and how tightknit of a family they are and how they do things. Obviously, through data, whichever players get signed, they are signed by merit either than opinion and 'I know this one is good' or whatever. Yeah, it gives me a sense of pride and it's good that, I think, they'll be in the Premier League again next season.
KAMOHELO MOKOTJO FACT FILE
Date of birth: 11 March 1991
Place of birth: Odendaalsrus, Free State
Jersey number: 24
Position: Midfielder
Club: Sekhukhune United
Previous clubs: SuperSport United juniors, SuperSport United FC, Feyenoord Rotterdam, SBV Excelsior (on loan), PEC Zwolle, FC Twente (all Netherlands, Brentford (England), FC Cincinnati (USA)
Honours: 2008/09 League winner (with SuperSport), 2009/10 Excelsior Young Player of the Year, 2011/12 Eredivisie runner-up (with Feyenoord), 2013/14 KNVB Beker winner, 2014 Johan Cruyff Shield winner, 2014/15 Dutch Super Cup winner (all with FC Twente), 2003 Danone Nations Cup Player of the Tournament, 23 Bafana Bafana caps, national U12, U20 U23 representation
