In a gripping interview with Soccer Laduma, Keagan Dolly opens up about his journey in his professional football career, revealing many personal details about his challenges which led him to where he is today.
Dolly, who currently plies his trade for Montpellier in France, fulfilling his dream of playing Europe, admitted that it was not an easy road getting to where he is today and in this week's edition of Soccer Laduma, he opened up about his time before joining up with the School of Excellence, where he was thereafter rejected by Kaizer Chiefs because of his height.
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"To be honest, I didn't want to go to the School of Excellence. After leaving Westbury Arsenal, my plan was always to go to Kaizer Chiefs, the club I supported as a child, the club whose stickers were on our front door. They were based at St Barnabas College, a walking distance from our house, so every day after school we would take a walk to training. We walked everywhere those days. A car was a scarce commodity," Dolly explained.
"A few of the coaches at Chiefs really liked me. I trained with the likes of Doctor Mampuru and I would see the likes of Itu Khune training from a distance. I was probably training with the club for four months. This was my dream come true. My fairy tale, training with Kaizer Chiefs, the team I supported as a child. Then heartbreak struck. 'We cannot sign you. You are too short to play for Kaizer Chiefs. Here we have taller, better players'.
"My world was shattered. This was the only team I ever wanted to play for. I decided there and then that I would use this heartache as motivation to work hard and prove those coaches wrong.
"I might be shorter, but I'm just as good as those older players," he added.
To see more on what Dolly has to say about:
• Idolizing Steven Pienaar
• His situation with Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns
• And Facing Manchester United
Grab a copy of this week's edition of Soccer Laduma, edition 1139 and check out Dolly's full story.
