Still In Touch With Nogwaza Part 3

Nov 16, 2024 - 02:00 am

By Lunga Adam

Without fear or favour, we must say, judging by some of what we've spoken about in the past two editions, you were such a stubborn character, ha, ha, ha.

Ha, ha, ha, eish, you can't be a softie in football, otherwise they will run you over. Fortunately, I had a coach like Trott Moloto at one stage at Bush Bucks. I consider him the best coach that I worked under. As much as the two of us had our own little fights at times, he used to understand what I was fighting for, plus he recognised my potential. As much as he may have had his negative side like any other coach, I would rate him 80% on the positive side. The nice thing is that he himself had played the game, so he knew all about the mentality of a footballer. He knew that even if others thought I was being ill-disciplined with my actions, but "yinja lento ebholeni (this guy is the top dog when it comes to playing football). Give him the ball and you'll see. He has his own politics, but he has a strong case here and I need him." Even if I hadn't been at training the whole week and we were going to play against teams like Kaizer Chiefs, (Orlando) Pirates and (Mamelodi) Sundowns, he would instruct the club to go and fetch me. I would come back, go straight into the starting line-up and dish out the best performance without having trained.

Wow… Thereafter, he would say, "Yekani eli Mpondo liphinde liyo toyi-toya. Mnikeni imali yakhe (Let this guy from the Mpondo clan go and toyi-toyi again. Give him his money)." Ha, ha, ha. Why? Because he got the three points as well as the respect he always wanted against the big teams. So, I can say he was a parent. I usually say to people, when you have an education background, you are able to have man-management skills, because I later discovered that he was a teacher and so that's why he used to understand these things. In addition to that, I was doing Teaching at the time, so we understood each other. You can't have a coach who wants to prove a point that he's in charge. Ndiyakwazi u (I know you're) in charge! I respect you, but respect me on what I'm saying. Ungatyhali nges'fuba (Don't force matters). He knew I had the potential to be a rotten apple within the group, so he would say, "Nogwaza, go and fight your battle. We need you, but go." I would say, "Yes, let me go and fight my battle because if you don't, I'm going to disrupt the training. There's no way I will train while I'm not happy. Ewe kaloku (Yes indeed)! I will just kick this thing (the ball) over there, and I won't do what you want me to do."

Obviously the fights were centered around finances, with a lot of clubs operating on a shoe-string budget in those days. But at least you got some good bonuses at times…

Our win bonus was R1 000 and we would get half of that for a draw. Unfortunately, you got nothing when we had lost a match. That's why I wasn't spending my salary that much back then because we were winning a lot, so it was my bonus that kept me going during the month. We knew that if we won four games in a month, that was R4 000, which was good money in those days. If we won two games, that was a guaranteed R2 000, which meant I could afford to pay my car instalment and buy some groceries. I would just keep the salary in the bank, not even touching it. Well, we also had this strategy… because we understood that everyone needed this money, if we were winning and it was five minutes before the match ended and no substitutions had been made, a few of our players would fake injuries so that some of the guys on the bench would also benefit. That's how we treated each other at Bush Bucks, there was no jealousy. Because ayomali yakho, nalo mntana wabantu uzosebenzela imali, le aqhathwa kuyo (it's not your money, this other guy is also here to work for money, which he was cheated on anyway). So, what stops you from faking an injury? You are going to start next week anyway because you played all of 85 minutes. Just give him a chance to come in, and even if he doesn't touch the ball, he would receive R1 000 because he would be listed among the substitutes.

Which teammate were you close to?

Most of the time, I would be at school and didn't really spend much time with my teammates off the field, but in 1996, when Cyril (Nzama) arrived, I started developing a friendship with him because we were speaking the same language. He didn't drink or smoke. The other guys I couldn't speak the same language with because they used to go out and do their things. I was not one to go out at night. So, when Nzama arrived, I started to have someone I could chat with and spend some time with. Nomoya wakhe wabe uphantsi kamnandi, wayengaphakamanga (Good thing is he was a modest person, with no airs and graces about him). Because he came from Johannesburg, you would think he was the arrogant type, but I found that he was actually down-to-earth and was someone I could befriend. Even to this day, we are still close. You won't believe that my one friend in football is Nzama, ha, ha, ha. We stay in constant contact, literally every day. Whenever I'm in Jozi, I go in search of him and we go to chill in Erica Park in the township, and likewise, when he's this side (Eastern Cape), he will look for me so that we can meet.

How much camping before games did you do in your day at Imbabala?

We would obviously camp when we were playing away, you see, because we would leave the day before and sleep over in a different province. But even when we were playing at home, for example against AmaZulu FC, we would have to go and camp. At some stage, though, we didn't camp per se. There was one year we didn't camp… this was under Trott. We told him that we were adults, people with families, who knew what they were there for. We were there for work and we considered camping as something more suitable for kids, who needed supervision. So, we would meet on the day of the game at Holiday Inn. In fact, if we were playing on a Sunday, we would be informed on the Friday in terms of what uniform to wear for the morning, for going to the game, etc. Such that each player would go home with his kit, as opposed to leaving it with the kit manager. It never used to go to the muti man first a day before the game. If it was three three-piece kits, they would all stay with you. The club would just let you know which two to bring just in case there was a possible clash of colours with the opposition.

Independence Stadium, the club's home venue, was a fortress where even big sides feared to tread. Why was that so?

Uyabona (You see), it was uthando lwento nokusebenzela ababantu bazimpula zika Lujaca (the love for it and giving your all for those poor souls) there in the stands, who spent their hard-earned R20s. You were not spending a cent, yet some would be lazy to give their all for just two hours. That person travelled in the morning from Durban, having spent maybe about R500. Come to think of it, supporters travelling from far have to hire out a kombi and then book accommodation, and then you tell me you can't work hard for them for just 90 minutes? This is a home game we are talking about. I understood when it is away, but at home, by hook or crook, you have to get the three points. That was our motto. If usindile umntu, makemke ne (an opposition team survives, then they must leave with a) draw. But it can't be a draw this week, next week and that week – no. It must be a draw only after three games at least. We had a great team spirit and knew that we were working for these people as well as our families and then the club. You can't disappoint your fans after all that vibe they created in the stands. They used to arrive at the stadium in the morning, from 10h00, while we were still chilling in the hotel. We would then make our way to the stadium anytime from 13h30 to 14h00 for the warm-up. They would be there waiting for us. When our cars entered the stadium, the noise levels would go up. Think about that vibe! Then you disappoint those people? Worst of all, you are going to get paid at the end of the month even if you lose. Why don't you make that person happy so that he could leave the stadium satisfied, and then you can go and get your salary?