Do you have that person that you share a special football bond with?
For me, it’s a guy named Liwonga Mjangqeka. Grew up with him in Eersterivier.
A big Pirates fan… and I came to find out his father Meshack “Mr Executive”Mjangqeka, who was a policy salesman at the time, was a star player for the Buccaneers in his younger days.
Crazy, right? Man, I don’t remember going a day without kicking a football. We were passing notes on how to manipulate a football. This was on his dad’s advice.
We used to read newspaper clippings and watch football documentaries and cheesy American sports movies on weekends and holidays.
So for me, to see Pirates play the way they are playing is special. It makes me think of how my friend Liwonga and uTata wakhe uBra Mish are feeling.
I imagine what they’d be saying, seeing amaBhakaniya play with this renewed energy and grit that has seen them reach the MTN8 final.
Pirates left it late this past weekend, beating SuperSport United 2-1 in the dying minutes of their league encounter at Orlando Stadium that left them third on the log.
Most crucial for me was that they broke the hoodoo SuperSport seemed to have on them in recent times.
We’ll never forget the 6-1 klap, that led to Muhsin Ertugral resigning on the spot? Matsatsantsa had been breaking Pirates hearts ever since.
What was more heartening was the fact that Pirates’ young brigade stepped up.
It wasn’t the usual suspects who were heroes this time around as Tshegofatso Mabasa and Zakhele Lepasa announced their push for seniority.
It was dope because the senior guys allowed it to happen. Vincent Pule didn’t make a big deal when he was substituted when he was making way for Collins Makgaga.
Herr Josef Zinnbauer, made some smart changes which gave the team a different dynamic.
Fortune Makaringe was switched with Linda Mntambo, while Terrence Dzvukamanja came on for Soweto Derby star Deon Hotto and Nkanyiso Zungu was brought on form Thabang Monare.
It worked out spectacularly. Herr Jo now has to manage these line-ups through the season and they will be guaranteed contention for the PSL title.
To win the championship, he’ll need a core that’s for sure.
The Buccaneers’ younger members stepped up which is scary because opponents shouldn’t only be worried about Gabadinho Mhango, Vincent Pule or Thembinkosi Lorch now baba.
Even Ntsikelelo Nyauza is finding the back of the net.
I’ve got Blaq Diamond’s SummerYoMuthi pumping in my headphones to manage my emotions as I write this.
I’m excited about Ezimnyama Ngenkani and I have to work through the pain of losing ninja yam uGondwe, Gugulethu’s own Anele Ngcongca at the same damn time.
He didn’t play for any of the Soweto giants, but it was public knowledge that his wish to play for Kaizer Chiefs to live out a dream one of his late brother’s had for him.
SA football lost a soldier who was ready to build the next generation of SA sporting heroes, his family lost a cousin-brother, umtshana (nephew).
Enkosi mfowethu, thank you for sharing part of your journey with us, you were a fine example of what can happen to a young person with a dream and will to do whatever it takes to live it out.
We were talking about opening up the conversation about sacrifices and what money means and how it works as you progress.Until we meet again, “sho tata”.