Players must have one partner – Fanie
MBABANE – Former Denver Sundowns and Sihlangu midfield maestro Fanie ‘The General’ Terblanche warns elite league to have one partner in order to maintain their performance during games. He also encouraged them to desist from bad habits, as this derails their progress of growing to become respected footballers.
‘The General’ revealed that he is one of the founding members of Ikappa Kappa, which was the merging of Denver Dynamos and Manzini Sundowns in the early 80s.
Enjoy your Sunday as he takes you down memory lane.
TS – Good day and welcome to the Times Sunday’s Legends Corner.
Fanie – I am really honoured to be invited to be part of this great column.
TS – Please tell the readers who Fanie Terblanche is?
Fanie – I am a gentleman, who was born in the Lubombo Region at Lubuli area.
TS – Please share with us how you got hooked in the sport loved by millions.
Fanie – Football is a sport we grew up playing at home. My father had a club at Mhlosheni in the Shiselweni Region. You would be surprised that I was a goalkeeper for seven years for the senior team during their training session and I was good hey.
TS – What was your first football team? Fanie – As I had said that my father had a team, I joined my brother Eric at Big Bend United when I was 14 years old. This was my first club, but I had to leave for Cape Town in 1982, when I came back I met France DuPont, known as Malume, who owned Denver Dynamos we won the Umkhwenyane League. We then merged with Manzini Sundowns to form Denver Sundowns.
TS – Oh, is that was how you ended playing for Denver Sundowns?
Fanie – Jah! I was never scouted to play for the team; I am one of the founders of the club
ha ha ha. You would be surprised to learn that I used to train with Denver Dynamos and play for Manzini Sundowns before we merged. I never chose to play for Denver Sundowns; I am just the DNA of the club ha ha ha.
TS – Ha ha ha! You also played with your brother Turbie, how was it playing alongside him?
Fanie – We shared a lot of similarities, as we played together for a long time, so connecting with him came naturally. I really enjoyed playing with him as we planned together the downfall of other teams. I must tell you, before I forget
mfowethu, that I never played for another elite league club in the country except for Sundowns.
TS – Really?
Fanie – Yeah! While in South Africa I played for Rock Lands United as well as Cape Town province pick team.
TS – Didn’t you get any offer while in Cape Town from Premier Soccer League teams? Fanie – Yes my brother.
TS – Please take us through your national team Sihlangu journey.
Fanie – I remember vividly that while I was a pupil at Lubombo Central High School I got called up for the junior squad by Coach Ted Dumitru. This was in 1981 or 82. I then graduated to Sihlangu in 1985, while playing in the Mkhwenyana League.
TS – Really? How was the feeling when you received the news that you were called up for Sihlangu?
Fanie – Mfowethu! I can’t even describe that feeling, as I was still playing in the junior ranks. I was really over the moon as it was my dream to represent my country at senior level.
TS – I understand. How was the reception and who were the senior players you found there?
Fanie – The reception was overwhelming my brother. The players that I found there were the likes of the late Puma Kunene, Scara Thindwa, Ace Mashwama, Cruiser Mahlalela, Foreman Mlotsa, Ace Jele, Thobile Thwala, Stan Nxumalo, Dodge Mahlalela, to name a few.
TS – What a cream of players, did they give you some sort of advice or message as a youngster?
Fanie – I remember that it was Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa, who advised me not to join another club, but continue playing for Denver Sundowns. This was the reason I never played for another club. He also told me to work hard at training, so that I could compete with the best in country. I think this made me what I am today.
TS – Share with us when was your first cap for Sihlangu and against which opponents?
Fanie – Eish, I can’t remember very well, but I think it was against Botswana during the King’s Birthday at the Somhlolo National Stadium.
TS – How was the atmosphere?
Fanie – It was electrifying, mind you it was the King’s Birthday mfowethu.
TS – What was the score?
Fanie – Iyooh! I can’t remember my bru.
TS – Who was the strictest coach you ever played under?
Fanie – There are three mfowethu, Ted Dimitru, Jan Simulambo and Jim Mwale. These were no-nonsense coaches my brother; they wanted everything to be done accordingly.
TS – Who was the best dresser in the squad?
Fanie – All players dressed well back then, as we wanted to be presentable to the supporters and in most cases I was the problem child ha
ha ha, but in the field of play I used to be a problem to many players ha ha ha.
TS – Ha ha ha, who was the best player you ever played with?
Fanie – I really enjoyed playing with all the players as we combined well. We had many foreign players, but ‘Chaka Chaka’ was outstanding.
TS – The General, what can you say about the standard of the sport in the country, compared to your day?
Fanie – I can just say it has dropped mfowethu and let me not comment further, least I get emotional.
TS – Ok no stress, let continue.
Fanie – Jah my brother.
TS – But just share the reason behind the drap my legend.
Fanie – It takes a lot mfowethu, these are some of the key aspect players need to have in mind, discipline, respect, confidence, avoid bad habits and they should always have one woman to maintain their performance in games.
TS – Great advice legend. Given a chance to be the Eswatini Football Association President, what changes could you bring into our sport?
Fanie – It’s all in the love of the game, than the position you are holding, that can change the game. Football is a sport for the people, it needs to be started at primary schools, build playing grounds around the country. We should have national competitions so that we can select good players, who would be guided by a national team coach. We must also invest in junior squads by sending them to play outside the country to get exposure and experience.
TS – Thanks for your time ‘The General’. Fanie – Anytime mfowethu.