You submitted your questions last week and Jerry "Legs of Thunder" Sikhosana has answered. He talks all things football: what he would change at Orlando Pirates, how they won the CAF Champions League in 1995, how he was discovered, the fights he has had with coaches, and what South African strikers lack.
If you were given the opportunity, what would be the first thing you would change about the current Orlando Pirates team? – Lefentse
I think I would instil teamwork. Teamwork is what I think is not existing at Pirates at the moment. There is no teamwork there. Work ethic is also missing in the current team. There is no brotherhood, if I can put it like that.
What do you think current South African strikers lack? What is the way forward? – Lefu
It's carbon copy. They want to do what the likes of Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Luis Suarez are doing. They want to score beautiful goals. They don't have the attitude that says: "I'm a striker and I want to score a goal, no matter how, but I want to get a goal". They want to do what others are doing, that's why I say it is carbon copy. Going forward, I think they need to believe in themselves and play the African way, and be more aggressive and more selfish.
How were you discovered as a footballer? – Dr. ss Zondi
I was discovered through school. School football is the best! Unfortunately, we don't have all those competitions anymore, the likes of the Meal Cup, Super C, etc., where you normally have to go nationally at school level, and that's where players grow in confidence. That is what is missing now in terms of school football.
In your playing days, did you ever have a misunderstanding with a coach? Please tell us about it. – Molupe
I had plenty of misunderstandings. One that comes to mind was with (former Orlando Pirates coach) Shaibu Amodu from Nigeria, when I told him that he can go back to Nigeria because I think, when he joined the team, he was given the wrong information about me. He came and wanted to be harsh on me without even knowing me. On his first day, I was late at training, but he already knew who I was and what the problem was, so I had a problem with that.
What was the secret of the 1995 Orlando Pirates team that won the CAF Champions League? – Lusindisozathu
There was a lot of teamwork; we would die for each other, and there was unity in that team. I think unity was the key to that 1995 Orlando Pirates team.
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