Roger Da Costa was an imposing centre-back whose career began at Moroka Swallows back in 2011 after undergoing a trial under German coach Rainer Zobel. He didn’t stay that long at the club having experienced the agony of coming so close to winning the league, while the next season turned into a disaster that almost ended in relegation. He was three years later off to Mpumalanga Black Aces, a star-studded side that flattered to deceive at the time. His last hurrah was at Aris Limassol in Cyprus, whom he only spent a season with between 2015 and 2016 before hanging up his boots.
Hello, Roger. We believe you’ve since swapped your soccer boots, shorts and jersey for a shirt, a tie and a kick-and-bhoboza, and have settled back in the US. How’s the transition been going?
Eish, man, it’s not as nice as when you just had to go to training every morning, you know. Now it’s a fulltime job, brother. Business is good though, business is good. Can’t complain. I’m in Dallas, Texas now. I moved here… You know, I came to college here years ago and then left to play soccer in South Africa, but I moved back permanently in 2015 when I left Cyprus, the same team that Mihlali Mayambela is playing for now (Aris Limassol). I was there at Aris and it wasn’t as nice for me than it is for him. The old owner over there was a f***ing gangster, man. There are new people now, it’s nice over there for him now. So, in 2015 I moved back here. I’m in IT sales now, of all things, which is crazy because I can barely switch a laptop on, my man. Ah, no, I’m kidding, man! No, it’s good. It’s different though. Business in America is fast-paced, s**t happens quick here. It’s fast-paced, everybody’s trying to make as much money as possible. It’s a money grab out here.
At least you don’t have to deal with loadshedding that side.
You know, you forget about those things when you live here because it’s First World. Obviously seeing it in the news and all that is one thing, but it affects people’s lives in a massive way. Like, I’ll call my family and they’ll be like, “If I lose you, that means the power’s gone out.” You forget about these things. So, it’s sad to hear, it’s sad. Funnily enough, my boss that I work for now, he’s been in America for years, but he’s from Roodepoort. So, he’s also a South African guy. Yeah, it was weird, man. When I was interviewed for the job and I met him, I was like, S**t, I know that accent, I know where you’re from, brother.
Now onto the football. Your career, of course, started at Moroka Swallows…
My man, that was in 2011. I had just come back out of college here in Texas. I was just there for training and got offered a trial. Rainer Zobel, the German, was the head coach there and he must have thought he was back in Germany. What’s this big mlungu doing here? Anyway, he was the coach who gave me my first chance and signed me up. Zeca Marques as well… he was the assistant then. I had known Zeca growing up through my dad. My dad and him played together growing up. So, that’s how I got offered a trial at least, and you know, with Rainer being a German, he was loving it… just the tough tackling and that. I left there in 2014, I think. We had some good times, man, had some good times.
We were just about to ask you about how the experience was.
You know, at Swallows the first year was tough because we were fighting relegation that year. The year previously to that, I think they had a good start. And I mean… we had a good start that first year because we got through the MTN8 final and lost to Pirates in the final on penalties. So, we had a good start to the year and then just couldn’t get it going that first year. Rainer ended up getting fired and Gordon (Igesund) came in. Gordon was a character himself, but I learnt a lot from him. He’s one of the top coaches in the country for a reason, you know. His legacy and his record is like that for a reason. He turned it around, man. That first year, I think after 15 games we had like two points. Something ridiculous. We ended up surviving relegation on the very last day, so it was quite emotional. Then the next season we went on to finish second to Pirates in the league. So, we went from surviving relegation on the last day to then coming out and finishing second in the league the next season. Helluva turn of events there. But you know, when Gordon came in, he changed the culture and brought in quality players. Katlego Mashego came in and that year I think he was the leading goalscorer. We had (Siyabonga) Nomvethe. Larry Cohen came in and me and him played centre-back. We had (Bennett) Chenene. Macbeth Sibaya came in, you know. So, we beefed it up and it was a good experience and just a good bunch of guys.
Sure.
But one thing I’ll say with that team is the harmony, man. The togetherness of the squad is what Gordon and Zeca kind of created. It was a good mix of youngsters and guys like Nomvethe, Mashego and Sibaya. Ashraf Hendricks as well was an experienced character. Greg Etafia. Man, it was… I mean, every team says this, but that group was very special, man. It was a brotherhood. It was a very, very special group. Even players that weren’t playing regularly, there was no sulking or fighting. Everybody was on the same page and supporting one another. It was a special time, man, very, very special time. Probably the most fun I’ve had on a football pitch was those years with Swallows.
The Birds were in full flight!
I’m telling you.
Unlike these days…
The Birds are sleeping now, my brother, ha, ha, ha. The Birds are chilling in the trees and sleeping. It’s sad though, man. Obviously we don’t have to talk about the history of the club, it’s a massive club. But those years at Swallows, from, I would say, 2011 until when I left, that was the most fun I had playing football just because of… never mind the football aspect of it, just the teammates and the s**t we used to get up to and the laughs, man. That’s what I miss, all the stuff that happened off the pitch. I speak to Larry Cohen a lot. I spoke to Rudi Isaacs not too long ago, and we just laughed about the old times and all the stupid s**t we used to get up to.
So, who were the main characters in all this brown stuff you guys used to get up to?
My man, I would say the ones always making trouble there… I would be in that list. Bennett Chenene would be in that list. Larry was always up to no good as well with me. We were always making pranks. Who else, man? I’m trying to think back now. There was a bunch. Shere Lekgothoane, I would say, was a silent killer. He was quiet, but he was always up to something I’m sure. Lerato Chabangu… I mean, I love “Ace”, man. Lerato was a character as well. I’ve got a special spot (in my heart) for that dude. He was a good boy Ace. Everybody was always up to something in that squad, you were never safe. On the contrary, someone like Nomvethe was quiet. He was the older statesman over there. Firstly, you never saw “Bhele” mad for some reason. He always had a big smile on his face. Even at practice, you could kick him or something and he gets up and he just smiles. He was the happiest guy. I mean, Bhele is a family man, a good leader. Never a troublemaker like the rest of us. He was one of the good guys. Same with Lefa Tsutsulupa. He was a solid leader, man. Great captain. He was almost like a coach on the field in the sense that when you needed a kick up the a**e, he would do it, but when you needed someone to put their arm around your shoulder, he was there too. I miss the boys, I miss all of them!
By Lunga Adam
STILL IN TOUCH FUN FACTS
First paycheque: R16 000
Biggest bonus: R40 000
Opponent I respected the most: Mame Niang
Team I’d have loved to play for: Kaizer Chiefs
Favourite PSL player right now: Ronwen Williams
Best coach I played under: Gordon Igesund
Craziest request from a fan: One fan said to me the one time, “Hey Costa, give me your phone please man.” Ha, ha, ha. You’ve got to give him 10 out of 10 for trying!
