As part of their way of giving back to the community, Mamelodi Sundowns stars Grant Kekana and Terrence Mashego have collaborated to host a football tournament in Tshwane. The duo are hosting the games in conjunction with Pretoria's well-known DJ Dhino, with participating clubs competing for a grand prize of R75 000. The tournament started in Pretoria on December 18 and will be running until December 28, the day of the final as confirmed by the organisers. Soccer Laduma's Masebe Qina caught up with Kekana to talk about what inspired the initiative. The defender goes on to speak about the progress in his game since joining the club from SuperSport United in 2021. He also addresses the insinuation that Downs buy success through their big spending in signing players as seen in recent years. With Rhulani Mokwena and the team involved in the CAF Champions League yet again, the lanky defender reveals how playing in the African Football League helped light the fire under their belly for the 'big fish'.
Masebe Qina: Grant, you have partnered with Mamelodi Sundowns teammate Terrence Mashego and DJ Dinho to host the first-ever Mamelodi Festive Tournament. Tell us about that collaboration.
Grant Kekana: It's Mamelodi Festive Tournament which I, Terrence and Dinho decided to collaborate in hosting to lift up the community of Mamelodi because nothing has really been happening in Mamelodi for quite a number of years. Individually, I do have my foundation, the Grant Kekana Foundation, and we usually give back to the needy around Christmas time, but sometimes due to my football commitments it hasn't always been possible. That's why I have decided to collaborate with Terrence and Dinho to start this kind of an initiative. It's just us collaborating to uplift the community of Mamelodi because there haven't been any activities to speak about in recent years and it was important that we got together to do something for the community of Mamelodi.
MQ: How has this great idea been received by the community?
GK: I think it's been received quite well and today (Monday, 18 December) was Day 1 of the tournament. So far, everything is going well and all is in order, and we are hoping that we can only grow from here. We are hoping for a lot of support and that there will be huge turnouts during the tournament.
MQ: We wish that everything goes well with the tournament and applaud you guys for giving back to the community. On an individual note, you seem to have made a lot of progress in your career since joining the Brazilians from archrivals SuperSport United.
GK: Ja, there's been big improvement, and playing for a big club like Sundowns, there are expectations and you have to live up to them. There are high demands, and you are expected to show up in each and every game. It was a good test and it came at the right time in my career.
MQ: The pressure is such that you are expected to win all the time at the Chloorkop-based outfit.
GK: I think we've got a top coach (Rhulani Mokwena) and we've got good players who are all motivated and are trying to improve themselves each time they play. That pushes you as a player to improve as well. So, I think the surroundings make it viable for all of us to try and achieve what we set out to achieve.
MQ: What are the demands of playing for a highly competitive team like Downs?
GK: Everyone has to pull up their socks all the time and everyone has a target that they have to set. When it comes to playing as a collective, I think we have been able to thrive together. The competition is healthy, but it's good at the same time. You are forced to always be on your A-game and that's one of the advantages of being here.
MQ: When it comes to opponents, what do they say about your achievements?
GK: To be honest, I don't have friends from other teams. I speak to one or two guys here and there and therefore it's never really the case (discussing Downs' achievements). Sometimes I do meet with guys from other teams in the national team or whatever, but we never engage in those kinds of discussions.
MQ: What would you say to critics who believe the club 'buys' success with all the quality players that they have managed to bring in over the years like yourself, Ronwen Williams, Aubrey Modiba and countless others?
GK: I don't pay too much attention to critics, but I think if you look at PSG, Man City and all those teams, they invest in their teams. We are fortunate that at Mamelodi Sundowns, our president (Dr. Patrice Motsepe) invests in his team and therefore we can only pay him back by bringing the results and winning competitions. We work hard and I'm talking about everyone here. We don't get things given to us on a silver platter.
MQ: What is it like having such a strong technical team where someone like Manqoba Mngqithi, who holds the title of senior coach in the team, is a head coach in his own right?
GK: It's good and we are fortunate to be having all of them. We all work very hard and all of us know the mandate that's expected of us. We are just fortunate to have quality all around, from the technical team to the players, and we are in a privileged position.
MQ: Despite the competition for places in the team, you seem to have unity. How do you manage to do it?
GK: For us, it is all about working hard and the mandate that we have. Like I said, there's quality all around here and you know that if you don't pull up your socks, the next person is more than ready and capable to deliver. When you get your chance, you just need to keep it.
MQ: The Brazilians recently won the inaugural African Football League, beating some top teams along the way. Must have been a great feeling!
GK: It was a good feeling and it put us in a good position to fight for the 'big fish' (CAF Champions League). We know that it's gonna be even tougher, if not twice as hard, but it gave us the confidence that we needed. It's that confidence that we needed to go to the CAF Champions League. Only time will tell how we will do on that one, but we are working very hard to try and do better than we did last season.
MQ: Despite being a centre-back, you are no stranger to scoring goals. Is this something that starts from the training ground? You've scored three goals in all competitions so far this season, and would have actually been on four had your goal not been incorrectly ruled out for offside in August's 4-0 win over Golden Arrows.
GK: Obviously, we train set-pieces a lot and we become happy when it comes out for us in the games. (Regarding his disallowed goal against Arrows), it's football, man – sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't.
MQ: As a parting shot, what is your message to football fans and people out there during this festive season?
GK: I would like to wish them a Merry Christmas and a happy festive season. I would like to encourage them to be responsible during this festive season. I wish they can have enough time to spend with their families, but most importantly, I wish they can be safe and responsible during this time.
MQ: We wish you all the best for the remaining games of the year and hope you will make the final cut as you've been included in Bafana Bafana's 50-man preliminary squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
GK: Thank you.
GRANT KEKANA FACT FILE
Full name: Gomolemo Grant Kekana
Date of birth: 31 October 1992
Place of birth: Pretoria, Gauteng
Nickname: Gino
Position: Defender
Jersey number: 20
Club: Mamelodi Sundowns
Previous clubs: University of Pretoria, SuperSport United
Honours: 2015/16 Nedbank Cup winner, 2016/17 Nedbank Cup winner, 2017/18 MTN8 winner (all with SuperSport), 2021/22 MTN8 winner, 2021/22 Nedbank Cup winner, 2021/22 League winner, 2022/23 League winner (all with Sundowns), 8 Bafana Bafana caps
