The grass is indeed greener for Roelf at Milano ...
A SINGLE touch and Gregory Roelf was in the box, with three defenders in his wake and in position to slot home his fifth goal of the season.
His strike – the last in Milano United’s 4-2 victory over FC Cape Town on Sunday – saw Roelf become the top goal-scorer at any of the Cape’s five NFD clubs this season and reach the halfway mark in his quest to reach double figures.
With 11 appearances this season and 18 matches left in the 2016-17 campaign, Roelf looks set to reach his target. However, less than two seasons ago, the 27-year-old was at a crossroads in his career after failing to make an impact at his first professional club.
“My contract with Santos came to an end and I hadn’t really been playing. I made around 20 appearances in two seasons at Santos. I wasn’t going anywhere. I was just staying in one place. I would give everything at training and do well, but still not get picked,” Roelf said of his two seasons at The People’s Team.
“My agent at the time called me and asked under which coach I made my debut, and I obviously answered Boebie Solomons because he gave my chance at Santos. He told me that Boebie was at Milano and wanted me to come and train, and then Boebie gave me a chance. That’s how I ended up here.”
Roelf only began playing football aged 12 when he joined Bishop Lavis’ Island Rovers FC. He then joined the Santos Under-17 side after impressing at a trial, and progressed through the ranks.
It was only after four seasons on loan at Santos’ feeder side, Mitchells Plain United that Roelf was called to join the Lansdowne-based club’s first team.
Since joining Milano, he has gone from strength to strength and become an integral member of the team. Roelf had scored just once at this stage last season, but would finish with 10 goals.
He now believes that failing to breakthrough at Santos may have been a blessing in disguise. With Eezy My Kinnes in fifth place on the NFD standings and his former club in 14th, who can blame him?
“That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking about recently, because if I had stayed at Santos I would have stagnated and not improved,” he said.
“I needed a new, fresh start. They always say the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but I feel that its greener here at Milano at the moment.”
The Grassy Park side is one of only two Cape clubs in the top half of the table, with Stellenbosch FC in third, and FC Cape Town and Cape Town All Stars in the bottom five along with Santos.
Milano’s aim this season is to finish in the top-three and win promotion to the PSL, but after a difficult start to the season they still trail Stellenbosch by four points.
Roelf, though, believes Milano can put together a run of victories to reach the promotion playoff spots. As for his goals, the striker’s ambitions are just as lofty – he wants to represent Bafana Bafana at least once before calling time on his playing career.
“I was always a ‘B’ team player when I was younger. I’ve never really had a big name, but I think there is still time to do that all,” Roelf added.