I was invited to be a keynote speaker at the Super League Legends gala dinner in Botswana last week and their aim was to activate more events and programmes for that country's legends. To my surprise when I got there, the government is really hands-on in the initiative and I have to thank all the stakeholders involved, His Majesty the President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, for the wonderful hospitality, even though he was not present at the event. The Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng, and Minister of Finance, Miss Peggy Serame, thank you so much. It is good to see a country thinking about the people or athletes who have done wonders for their country and looking to help take care of them. I found myself searching my heart and thoughts, wondering what is it that they are doing right that other countries are not? I'd rather have a full column talking about the finer details of my visit to Botswana. I must also thank Dr Kaizer Motaung and the Kaizer Chiefs family for the gifts and messages that they sent me for this trip. I really appreciate their support because I went to Botswana not just as Doctor Khumalo but carrying the Chiefs brand and representing my country, South Africa. Keep an eye out for the details of this trip in the next few weeks.
Doc answers your questions…
Please don't forget to send your questions to editor@soccerladuma.co.za for now, until further notice.
Themba Siyo wants to know if coaching is still something I am interested in pursuing here in South Africa. Well, Themba, I am still coaching in my academy, so the answer is yes.
Zane Msi is asking if I am happy with the introduction of young players in the DStv Premiership as well as their development. Honestly, it can be better because there's something missing. I am happy that some teams are promoting players at a young age, but we really need more of it.
Senzo Zethu, I really can't single out anyone as my favourite Player of the Season so far. That's not because no one has raised their hand yet but because I believe it is always better to have that conversation at the end of the season. I feel it would be too soon to talk favourite player.
Being Doc
When you talk disappointments, it is not easy to handle. One has to be strong and make sure that they show character, so that the disappointment doesn't ruin their life or career. That's what I had to do and, fortunately for me, the end of Argentina turned out to be the beginning of USA.
Coaches I've worked with: I'd never experienced anything like that
Preparations for my first game in Argentina were out of this world! Those guys don't cut corners when it comes to preparations. My first official game was away to Club Atletico Independiente. Teams that side camp from Thursday, not just a day before the game, and they don't camp in the city centre. Most of the teams own farms and instead of going to different towns for pre-season camp, they use their farms. They don't buy it to farm but to build a facility away from the city, where you don't see anyone or anything that's got nothing to do with what you're there for. They have fully-fledged football fields, dressing rooms, boarding houses and rooms that look like a lodge and they have everything, from dining room to kitchen. They also have swimming pools and all the facilities that you need are there, and the farm is well-looked after. This facility is used for all the team's divisions and if there is an U17 tournament, for example, the U17 team will make use of that facility for preparations. It is a secluded area, but you will find everything you need. On the day of the match, you drive from the farm to the hotel for a pre-match meal, get rooms to rest, then you do the team talk and go to the stadium. We got to the team talk and my interpreter was nowhere to be seen! I was panicking because of the language barrier, but five minutes into the team talk, one gentleman walked in and sat next to me. That's when I realised he was the interpreter replacement. The coach said I was starting and wanted to know if I understood my responsibilities from the friendlies we played. I told him I understood everything. He then told me he needed just 40% defence and 60% attack from me since I was a creative player. That's why they gave me jersey number 10, as the playmaker. The stadium was packed to the rafters! We all know how crazy the Argentinian football supporters can be. There was red and even orange smoke all over the place in that stadium, the flags waved all the time, toilet paper thrown to the field and I'd never experienced anything like that, except from watching it on television. As we lined up to greet the supporters, they were chanting my name. I got a chance from a back pass that went wrong. I was closing a defender down and opened for the pass to the goalkeeper, and as soon as he played it, I sprinted so fast, which was so uncharacteristic. I beat the goalkeeper to the ball and dribbled him out of the way, before squeezing the ball with my left. It hit the far post and went into the back of the net and that was my debut goal against a team enjoying so much support. They had big names that were playing for the national team and when I scored, the stadium erupted and it was such an unbelievable feeling! That goal paved the way for me because the following Monday, I was on every radio and television football show, where they have about 15 of them in total. That's how crazy those people are about football and my day started at 06h00 and I was talking about my debut until around 23h00. That's when I realised that when you go to other countries, you have to focus on what you are there for. There's no time at all! I also realised that teams have programmes to guide their players against getting involved in wrong non-football activities. They'd have specific training for certain players after the team's training session, then others would be doing theoretical training, while others are going through individual psychological sessions. They'd even organise half-a-day spa treatment for players, while others would be involved in the team's marketing activations. So, there was always something for one to do every week. When they say you're given a day off, you better rest assured that the next day is going to be so intense you will regret it if you went out. If they find out you can't deliver for the club because you went out the previous night, they tell you straight, "You don't have a contract with the nightclubs or DJs, but you have a contract with this football club!" Remember, they have ways of finding out through random and regular tests. Every second week, we'd go on a scale so that they check your weight.
Doc's Memory Bank: That's How The Argentina Stint Ended
As much as my debut goal was a blessing, it was equally a curse because it brought a big spotlight on me. Remember, there were only two Blacks in that league, myself and (Alphonse) Tchami from Cameroon, who was playing for Boca Juniors. I opened myself up to so much scrutiny after that goal, with journalists even parking their cars outside my apartment, recording each and every move I made. The unfortunate part, my interpreters were always university students and, if it was a lady she would bring two or three of her friends when we went to the mall. The media thought I was changing women, only to later find out these were just my interpreters. My chairman got really upset about those reports and set the record straight about my interpreters, forcing the media houses to retract their stories and apologise. It was unfortunate that my president was voted out, which is a norm in Spain, Argentina, Uruguay and other countries, and the club failed to pay the balance of the money they owed Chiefs for my transfer. Within their rights, Chiefs complained to FIFA and won the case. So, I was declared a free agent and ordered to come back home, which was the news I heard from Dr Motaung when he told me I needed to pack my bags and come back home in two days. That's how the Argentina stint ended and this was just as I was starting to enjoy my career. Tebogo Moloi was also coming back from Colombia, so we came back together since he wasn't far from me. We came back and I went straight to Bafana Bafana camp to prepare for 1996 Afcon. That's when the USA journey started, as I was in camp… but more on that in next week's edition.
Doc's Friend Zone
It is unfortunate that I had to leave Argentina because of the situation between the two clubs, but if you are talking lifestyle, football, resources and everything I needed, I would have loved to stay in Argentina. This whole thing happened just as I was really getting to know everything around me and settled down. Without Marcelo Houseman, most things wouldn't have happened for me. That man, even though he was my agent, went above and beyond the call of duty. I met him through Augusto Palacios and he is the man who made sure that I realised my dream of meeting my favourite tennis player of all-time, Gabriela Sabatini, and even have dinner with her. That man made things easy for me and, at one stage, he and the people from the South African embassy were the only people I knew in Argentina. Marcelo, I can't thank you enough for taking care of me in Argentina and you'll always remain a good friend and a brother.
