TYSON LEADS BY EXAMPLE

Hlatshwayo exhibited qualities of a good leader from an early age. He wasn’t a vocal one but preferred to let his performance do the talking and lead by example instead. He was an influential figure in the national Under-20 team that played in the 2009 World Cup in Egypt.

His reserved demeanour never really changed with age even though he grew as a leader. Gavin Hunt saw he was captain material and gave him the armband two years ago to decrease the workload Sibusiso Vilakazi had.

This allowed “Vila”, Hlatshwayo’s friend, an opportunity to focus more on his game without the heavy workload that included inspiring his teammates. That job came naturally to Hlatshwayo as it was something he had been doing for a long time without the armband. Now he will go down in history as the first Wits’ captain to lift the Absa Premiership in the club’s 96-year history.

In the three years that Hlatshwayo has spent at Wits, he has transformed into a phenomenal player, a beast of some sort.

“I’ve worked with a lot of coaches who’ve contributed to me being the player I am today.The likes of Foppe de Haan, Roger de Sa and all my development coaches. But I have to admit that it was coach Hunt who transformed me into a beast. He awoke something I never thought I had inside me,” Hlatshwayo said after winning the Absa Premiership Defender of the Season award.

The beast that Hlatshwayo has transformed into is a rugged defender with a scoring touch from his ferocious headers. Hunt lived up to his promise after the club won the MTN8 last year, that he will turn Tyson into a powerful force if he can wake up the beast within him.

That beast is awake and has been causing havoc.