This week the Siya crew caught up with football administrator, Costa Bellos.
In this week's edition of Soccer Laduma, issue 941, we invited you, our readers, to log onto the Soccer Laduma Supporters Club, where you can read an exclusive interview with Bellos.
The Siya crew's Masebe Qina got in touch with the football administrator. Hope you enjoy the read. Cheers... Eddie.
Masebe Qina: Hi Costa, you held the position of General Manager at Polokwane City, but parted ways with the club before the start of the 2015/16 season. What have you been up to since then?
Costa Bellos: Like you say, I left Polokwane City and I'm at home at the moment. I left the club for family reasons. I'm contemplating my options at the moment.
MQ: You spent the 2014/15 Absa Premiership season with Polokwane. What took you to Limpopo?
CB: I found out that the club's previous general manager resigned and I sent my CV through to Mr. Johnny Mogaladi, the chairman of the club. He called me and we had a meeting. I started from there.
MQ: How did you find working with Mr. Mogaladi during your time at the club?
CB: Look, Mr. Mogaladi is somebody who is demanding like any other chairman. Personally, I didn't have any issues with him. We worked very well together. He is somebody that I respect.
MQ: How did you find working in the PSL?
CB: Working for a PSL club is very demanding. The PSL is one of the most professionally run leagues in the world. It can even be compared to some of the top leagues in the world with the way it is being run.
MQ: What challenges do you face in your working environment?
CB: The difference between a football club and any other business is that you are dealing with people. It's not like a supermarket where you put an item on the shelf and expect it to be sold. You deal with people and people have emotions. People have problems at home and they demand things. You work with a group of 40 to 50 people. You have to be a psychologist as well in a way, and make decisions that benefit the club as well as your employees.
MQ: What were some of your highlights at Polokwane?
CB: The proudest moment was when we won the Q2 of the PSL Q-Innovation last season. We worked very hard for that achievement, from the players, management and everybody at the club. It took a lot of effort and focus from everybody.
MQ: What has been the strangest request you have had from a player?
CB: Look, like I said, you are dealing with human beings and every situation is different, Masebe. All human beings are faced with different problems, either financial problems or problems from home. So somebody would come to me and tell me that he has a specific problem. You always have to make sure that you work for the benefit of both the club and the player. When a player is happy, he will perform on the field.
MQ: Have you ever been involved in facilitating player movements between clubs?
CB: When I was with Alexandra United I facilitated Thabo Mosadi's move to Tuks (University of Pretoria). We sat down with the club's management and the deal was done.
MQ: We are listening.
CB: I must also mention that I have been close to Manqoba Ngwenya for some time. I was approached by Mamelodi Sundowns, when he moved to the club at the time. They knew that I was close friends with 'Shakes' (Ngwenya) and I facilitated his move from Wits University (Bidvest Wits) to Sundowns. There are a couple of others. While at Polokwane I facilitated the move for Raymond Monama to the club. He was a free agent, after Sundowns. Those are two of many that I facilitated.
MQ: Tell us more about your 'friendship' with Ngwenya.
CB: We are very close friends. It's a pity that he is not playing at the moment. I believe that he still has another year or two to contribute to South African football. Last season he finished as the second top goal scorer in the Botswana Premier League. He achieved that coming off the bench most of the time. I am a big admirer and that's not because he is my friend, I still remember how well he performed under Neil Tovey at Sundowns. Tovey played him in a specific position that suits him best and that's behind the strikers.
MQ: Go on …
CB: I have been blessed with a lot of friends in football. My closest friend, Eric Ramasike, paid lobola (bridewealth) for me three months ago. He paid lobola on my behalf. My wife is Zulu. I've been friends with John Tlale, (Alex) 'Barnes' Bapela, (Joel) 'Fire' Masilela and most of the Sundowns crew. I was very close to the late Joas Hluphi Magolego too.
MQ: How did you become friends with so many of the former Sundowns players?
CB: Sundowns used to train at the Greek Sporting Club and I was working at a Greek radio station in those days, which was next to the Greek Sporting Club. I got to know the players and we became friends. I was born in Greece and I came to South Africa when I was 14 years old. I did my standard six, seven, eight and nine in Vereeniging, and played for Two For Joy FC.
MQ: Interesting! Did you play with Steve Lekoelea at Two For Joy?
CB: Yes, I played with Motsiri. He was still called Steve Motsiri at the time. I played for the club although I was not as good as him (Lekoelea). He was a striker at the time.
MQ: Tell us more.
CB: There was another great player there at the time, China Masondo. He was one of the best midfielders I have ever seen. When Steve was at (Moroka) Swallows and China was at (Orlando) Pirates, I thought China was 10 times better than Steve. That boy, with that left foot of his, could do amazing things with the ball.
MQ: Costa, it's been nice talking to you, all the best with future endeavours.
CB: Thank you, Masebe.
