FACT FILE:
MBABANE – Former national team and Manzini Wanderers goalkeeper William ‘Cool Cat’ Shongwe revealed that Kaizer Motaung assured him that he would make the cut at the then star-studded Kaizer Chiefs, as he told him that 99 per cent of players signed by him played.
He also said the Sihlangu game against English Premiership sides Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs, which was called Totpool played at the Somhlolo National Stadium marketed him to South African teams as it was televised across the continent.
Enjoy your Sunday as he takes you down memory lane in this part two.
TS – Thanks once again for gracing this honourable page Shongwe.
Cool Cat – It’s my pleasure my brother.
TS – Yeah, let us continue where we left off Cool Cat, please share with the readers how your move to Kaizer Chiefs came about.
Cool Cat – The move was supported by Ted Dumitru , who had moved to Kaizer Chiefs at that time and things were not working out for him as they were not winning games as expected. He cited that the goalkeeping department was not performing; he suggested me. Also I think what made a good transition for me was a game when the national team played against a combination of Liverpool and Tottenham called Totpool. They came to the country, played together and against us, fortunately for us it was televised in South Africa.
TS – Please continue my legend.
Cool Cat – A lot of people saw this goalkeeper from Eswatini, so there was a lot of interest, a number of teams were interested in me because of the exposure I got from that game. Going across to Kaizer Chiefs, I carried a bit reputation as a good goalkeeper. I remember in one of the games in Under-23 squad, he came down to Eswatini to watch that game, which I was the number one. I think he was convinced that I could do the job.
TS – I see.
Cool Cat – When he came to do the deal with me my brother I was very concerned that I would be able to make the grade, one thing Kaizer said all the players who he had gone out to sign 99 per cent make it at Chiefs, so imagine what that meant, when the big man himself sitting across the table made that statement, it really assured me that I was good to go. That’s how the move came about.
TS – Who were the goalkeepers you found at Kaizer Chiefs?
Cool Cat – Jah, at the time I arrived you will remember that Peter Ballack had retired and there was Isaac Thsiwa and Johans Mahlaba, who was from Benoni United, a great goalkeeper but things were not happening for these goalkeepers as they were alternating them now and then just to see, who will do well. I came at a time when the position was not stable and I guess my timing was perfect, ha ha ha as I only stayed one game on the bench, we lost 3-2 so the next match the fans were shouting in the stands saying; ‘We have an international goalkeeper sitting on the bench and we are losing. How long will this continue?’. This was my first time seeing the fans rioting and it was very challenging and I could see that they were baying for Coach Ted’s blood. It was clear that I was more likely to play in the following week.
TS – The week eventually came and did you make the starting eleven?
Cool Cat – Yes, I made my debut against
Jomo Cosmos at the Thokoza Stadium, it was brilliant as we drew 2-2. I had a brilliant game and I didn’t disappoint.
TS – Who were also the greatest players that you played alongside at Amakhosi?
Cool Cat – I was highly privileged to play alongside some of the greatest at Kaizer Chiefs at the time, top of the list is a player that I looked up to even long before I came, Patrick ‘Ace’ Nseleng. He happened to have been returning from, you will remember that there was some split between NFP days to the NSL so he formed his own team the Ace Mates, so things didn’t work well so my arrival conceded with his return. What a player! Scara Thindwa was already there doing a good job, Teenage Dladla was the other legend playing as right wing but left-footed. We had Chippa Moladetsi in the midfield, Wellington Manyathi. Doctor Khumalo joined us a year later and many more. Oh! How can I forget Marks Maponyane our top striker, this was a Bafana Bafana, I mean that team could feature proximately Bafana Bafana ha ha ha.
TS – Which striker gave you a nightmare?
Cool Cat – If you talk about a striker that was a big problem for me in both Eswatini and here, Scara Thindwa was top of the list, but then there was Nicodemus ‘Ace’ Mashwama of Mbabane Highlanders, but he was also a troublesome player from Mhlume Highlanders. The list is endless, KK Zini, there was the Dladla brothers from Mbabane Highlanders both problematic and there was also Maria Fakudze at Mbabane Swallows. This is endless I just mentioning a few here to wet your appetite ha ha ha.
TS – Ha ha ha what about over there in South Africa?
Cool Cat – Geez! Oh boy! The likes of Mandla ‘Metrobriz’ Sithole of Orlando Pirates, Rambo at Mamelodi Sundowns and there was the Malunga brother obviously Kenneth was the star, Julias Chirwa of Amazulu, Archie Hadebe from Amazulu, at Moroka Swallows there was Mike Mangena. I am talking about a great striker.
TS – Which game will always linger in your mind?
Cool Cat - You see when you have played for a big club and played those many games, you won’t have that only one game that will always linger in your mind. I think for me there are three in Eswatini, the final of my first cup for Manzini Wanderers, The Trade Fair in 1985 or first in 1984 we beat Mbabane Highlanders the ‘money devils’ of our time. Then secondly the finals of JPS Cup at the Ellis Park Stadium, my first season, only three months after my arrival, 110 000 supporters were packed at the Ellis Park, and there were a lot of emaSwati, who had travelled. Imagine how proud they were seeing me doing my things on the field, in fact, I was named the Man of the Match. The other one was back in Eswatini when we played Totpool, incredibly again I was Man of the Match to the extent that Peter, who was the Manager of Tottenham, mentioned that he was interested in taking me over for further trials in England, but that move never happened for a number of different reasons,
Full name: William Shongwe
Nickname: Cool Cat
Place of Birth: Msahweni, northern Hhohho
Jersey number: 1
Previous clubs: Ngonini Choppers, Mjaji Callies, Dangerous Darkies, Manzini Wanderers, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Moroka Swallows.
Current occupation: DStv SuperSport commentator
but you can imagine what that meant for me. I could have played in the EPL my brother ha ha ha.
TS – Ha ha ha you also played with your brother Abel ‘Chacklas’ at Kaizer Chiefs how was that feeling?
Cool Cat – Jah, Abel joined me a few months later, as I arrived around March and he arrived in July. Yes, it was good having a liSwati to start with, but having a brother with, not just a brother, Abel was incredible he used both feet but people thought that he was a left-footed player. He had speed, short and could deliver crosses. Yes, there was also another liSwati, who basically paved the way for all of us to go to Chiefs or South Africa, Absalom ‘Scara’ Thindwa, we stayed together in a flat and it was nice as the brotherhood was there. We played for the Mighty Amakhosi my brother ha ha ha.
TS – Before we let you go Cool Cat, given the opportunity to be the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) President what changes could you bring to our sport?
Cool Cat – Talking of presidency, that position is a big responsibility as carrying the country. You can’t just take the position because of the prestige that comes with it. It’s going to be something that you can have it inside your stomach because there is so much opposition. I had the privilege to attend the Football Summit in Eswatini last month, whereby club’s chairpersons were hitting the president challenging him with certain things that were not done right and sometimes you wonder if there was enough research from him to be precise. I think there was a lot of truth in the people’s concerns, but ke, the president a good thing by inviting them to come together to see where our football was going.
TS – Jah I do remember that summit. Cool Cat – Yeah, but if I would be interested in such a position, first of all, what is there to be achieved at the moment, there is a lot. I think to be a president of a country that is successful in the game is too massive. I don’t think we have the resources because this association is doing a bit well. I am happy with some of the things the association has done, by setting up structures in the rural areas that helped to identify players who would suit the national team, but now these are ideas who needed to be sold to the individual clubs, as they are there ones that develop the players for Sihlangu.
TS – Thanks for your time Shongwe. Cool Cat – My pleasure Mntolo.
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