Mamba Mentality, the mantra first made famous by Kobe Bryant, the late basketball great who was known for his tough-as-nails mentality and ability to bounce back, has been the catalyst to seeing Sibusiso Vilakazi overcome his injury woes. The midfield genius endeared himself to local football lovers in the colours of Bidvest Wits where he played with a fearlessness rarely seen. Naturally, a move to Gauteng's biggest clubs beckoned after he was named the country's best player in the 2013/14 season, and it was Mamelodi Sundowns who won the race for his coveted signature in July 2016. After six trophy-laden years at the Brazilians, the Soweto-born star enjoyed a short stint with TS Galaxy before prematurely being released from his contract, only to resurface at Sekhukhune United, where he has shown glimpses of his best. In this interview, the decorated footballer speaks to Soccer Laduma's Delmain Faver about how he had to rebuild his career, the Nedbank Cup final loss, and much more.
Delmain Faver: Hard luck on losing the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates over the weekend. What did you make of the game?
Sibusiso Vilakazi: I just have to congratulate Pirates for winning the game because they've scored the (number of) goals which we didn't score. We tried on the day. We were there with moments, but then of course we were not clinical as they were. With them, there's a culture, there's a history of them in the finals – they hardly lose much. Going into the game, of course, we were underdogs and that little hope of causing an upset, it was there for us. I think there are more lessons to learn from, a platform to build from, especially after this season that the team has had. I think in general we just have to congratulate Pirates because they won the cup, which is the most important thing. For us, it's to just take lessons from it, soak up the experience and soak up those feelings that we had. Guys being on the floor with tears… all those things you can't throw them away. You just have to put them somewhere for the upcoming season.
DF: Where do you think you guys lost it?
SV: I wouldn't say we've lost it because one, we put ourselves on the front foot with that goal, which was exceptional for us. I think at that time, within those minutes, we showed we were able to go toe-to-toe with them and then of course the game stretched a bit, also because of the quality that they have. They won't sit back. They kept on punching and punching, punching and until we cracked a bit and that's what happens when you allow it to go that far. Because I think the first 15 minutes to 20 minutes, it was end-to-end stuff where we played in their half, they played in our half and then I think the goal kind of let us lose a bit of a grip where they started to have more attempts, more attacks in our own half. Then that led to those mistakes that we did, but we learn from those things. As I say, you learn hopefully going forward, we'll learn from them and then won't repeat the same mistakes.
DF: What are your thoughts on the penalty?
SV: I really don't pay much attention if maybe the goal was an offside or a handball or not. On the day, it stood and whatever happens, you cannot do anything about it. You can't do anything that the referees decide upon. So, the ref is the president of the day and you just take it the way it is and that's how I take it, and then we go forward because you can't undo what's been done.
DF: Moving on, the one thing that we have seen on your social media accounts and which coach Pitso Mosimane has praised you for is the installation of a home gym at your house, something we see from some of the top professionals in sport who aim to prolong their careers and stay injury-free. Tell us a bit about that.
Sibusiso Vilakazi: Yeah, I think one thing that you have mentioned is injuries. I mean, that's part of the game and those you can't control, but then what you can control is how you come back from it, how you feel energised about it, how you want to prove a point for yourself more than anything. It's just to have a point for yourself to prove. So, (it is) that for me and things that I want to achieve on my own. But then, of course, within a group like this, you have to understand that you are not only (doing it) for yourself but for the team, but the more you put in, that will help the team for the better because I mean, at the end of the day, if you put in so much work, then it helps the team and it's good for the team and it's good for everybody. The targets and the goals that I strive towards come (from) within me before anybody else. So, the gym on its own, I mean, you see it in Europe with some of the top, top, top, top players. They invest in their bodies, they invest in themselves, because when you look after yourself, you give yourself a good continuation of your career so that you are able to get those things that you want to achieve.
DF: Another thing we have noticed is your admiration for the late basketball superstar Kobe Bryant, especially his mentality. Although you share a different sport from him, that mentality seems to be the same, not so?
SV: I think his story happens to have touched me because of his setbacks, which were able to prevent him from maybe getting eight titles or whatever, but within the time period that he had, the mentality to come back with people saying he's not going to be able to… and to have that, on its own, it's incredible. So, for me, that story, Kobe Bryant's Muse, the book that he had, it kind of like related to me because of the times whereby I found myself coming up again and then once I've settled and then (I'm) finding my rhythm, then a setback would happen. So, then it kind of related to me how things have happened in my life and then found myself having to come up again because not so many people can do that. Everything comes within the mentality, so I could relate, of course. Then when a friend of mine sent me his (Bryant's) documentary, he said he reminds him of me and that's when I started engaging and finding out about this person he is talking about. When I started reading Kobe Bryant's Muse, it brought tears to my eyes because I could relate to what he was going through and I could relate to all these bad things that are happening within the game. But then, of course, the game of football is the game of football, you just have to take it the way it is. But for me, just to come back from those injuries and I'm able to still go toe-to-toe with one of the greatest players in the game, it definitely speaks to me.
DF: You scored your first goal in two seasons against Maritzburg United in April. That must have felt really good and given your confidence a massive boost!
SV: Well, that came from the drive that I had within myself, and of course people had written me off. I wouldn't say who, but people had written me off, so I had to. I mean, that, for me, (said) I'm going to the gym and I'll show those people that, you know, as much as you think I'm wasted and as much as you think I'm out, we'll see. So, for me, it had to be that drive within that 'I can show you'.
DF: An unfortunate trend that we've seen in recent years is that as soon as someone reaches the heights of winning the PSL Player of the Season award, the next campaign, more often than not, is not quite on the level that they were when they won the accolade. Does that speak to how difficult it is to maintain that consistency?
SV: There's not so many who could tell the same story because I point out myself after winning those accolades, then it happened that unfortunately I had a setback. Then, of course, you sit a few months out or whatever, and once you have to come back again, it's a toll on its own and, of course, (there are) certain expectations. People want you to be on the same level, but it doesn't happen like that. But within yourself, you are still fighting to get there. But for me, and having to go to (Mamelodi) Sundowns, I think I still played a big part because remember, I went to a side to contribute, not merely for myself because I had won those accolades with (Bidvest) Wits. So, for me, it was more about contributing to the team more than seeing myself winning Footballer of the Season. Most importantly, I mean, then you win your league back-to-back, you win your CAF (Champions League). For me, those were the bigger prizes that were more than for myself.
DF: Does that kind of provide a consolation then, the fact that you didn't play as much as you wanted to, but when you look at your trophy cabinet, you can afford a smile?
SV: No, it doesn't, it doesn't because the drive hasn't ended. The ambitions to further display better numbers (are still there) because I still want to better certain numbers for myself. So, as I say, you never get enough, to be honest – you never get enough. Regardless of finding myself at Sundowns, regardless of finding myself at TS Galaxy, fast-forward everything now, finding myself at Sekhukhune (United), there's always a drive for me within the team. How can I help the team and contribute because more than anything, it is about how I can contribute to the team, either by finding myself on the field of play or guiding the upcoming ones, you know. Because I would like to see them get better and then we have quite a few youngsters who want to better themselves. I mean, if I won it and I have so many accolades, clearly you would be really wishing to be next to me and asking questions of how it happened and how it came about.
SIBUSISO VILAKAZI FACT FILE
Date of birth: 29 December 1989
Place of birth: Meadowlands, Gauteng
Nickname: Vila
Jersey number: 50
Position: Midfielder
Club: Sekhukhune United
Previous clubs: Bidvest Wits juniors, Bidvest Wits, Mamelodi Sundowns, TS Galaxy
Honours: 2009/10 Telkom Knockout winner (with Wits), 2016 CAF Champions League winner, 2017 CAF Super Cup winner, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 2021/22 League champion, 2019/20 2021/22 Telkom Knockout winner, 2019 Nedbank Cup winner, 2021/22 MTN8 winner (all with Sundowns), 2013/14 PSL Player of the Season, 2013/14 PSL Players' Player of the Season, 2013/14 Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament, 2 national U23 caps, 32 Bafana Bafana caps
