Former Mamelodi Sundowns player Lovers Mohlala has spoken about how frustrating it was to miss out on a move abroad, when the club rejected an offer from a Danish club.
Soccer Laduma spoke to the retired player to talk about the years he spent with the Tshwane giants.
The years
I was there from 1997 until 2003 I think. My time at Sundowns was very nice and painful as well. The nicest part about being at Sundowns was that we were a team that was winning. Players dedicated their lives to represent the Sundowns badge. At some point, I was frustrated. Frustrated how? Remember FC Conpenhagen bought Sibusiso Zuma? I actually went for trials there. They were supposed to buy me. They offered $400 000 to Sundowns. But Sundowns wanted $700 000. The painful part is that what Motsepe is doing today, Sundowns did not do back then. We didn't get bonuses for the Champions League. They said we would share what we win, but we lost in the final and we did not get a cent.
The make up of the team
We had great players, the likes of Alex Bapela, John Tlale, Roger Feutmba and (Joel) Fire Maselela. We had a bunch of good players and there was unity. We were not celebrity. We were protected by king pins and taxi owners. Even in the township, the Sundowns players would not be hijacked so easily. I remember Albert Kometsi who used to play for Swallows was hijacked. Then we called around and we told him that he would find his car at the police station, but he would not find the tyres and the radio. We were protected and we were not paying a protection fee.
Rands and cents
We had the nicest time at Sundowns, but there was no money. I'll tell you one thing...the highest that I earned at Sundowns was R12 000. We were playing with players who really wanted to win. The painful part is that you retire in football, but you can't even enter the yard at Sundowns. That's the sad part. When you play, there is no pension. We are the only ones who pay tax and not get a pension fund. That's the sad part of football.
My debut
My first game was against Chiefs and we beat them 4-1. I was on the bench and Bra Stan said 'boy, what''s your nickname?' Then he said 'today, your name is Horse'. I created two goals that day. That's where I started. I knew when I got there, I had already made a mark for myself. When I got there, it was a matter of showing my skill.
Why I left
It was frustration. They did not want to sell me to Copenhagen. When Copenhagen bought Zuma, Sundowns refused to sell me. They gave me the offer in my hand. They called Sundowns and they even offered me a salary. That's when I got frustrated.
