Lorenzo Gordinho

What’s next for Kaizer Chiefs’ talented defender?

When Tefu Mashamaite left Kaizer Chiefs following the expiry of his contract straight after Amakhosi’s last title success in 2015, there were fears that their backline would start showing cracks. Such was the panic that Chiefs stretched their financial muscle and brought in Siyanda Xulu, released by Russian side FC Rostov, and recruited Daniel Cardoso from Free State Stars. What was not known by the club at the time was that they already had a product of their own in Lorenzo Gordinho as the perfect fit to partner Mulomowandau Mathoho in central defence. Since being entrusted with the duties of standing at the back, Gordinho has been impressive, rapidly growing in stature from the boy who graduated from their development to being a first team squad member and then a reliable regular

starter over the last year and a half. His calmness has complemented the fighting spirit of Mathoho in the heart of defence, much to the delight of coach Steve Komphela. “Gordinho trained well and took advantage of the predicament with others. Watch what he gives to the team – he makes the other defenders understand and allows there to be harmony and competition,” commented Komphela as Gordinho set his foot into the mud. A profile that has been ballooning has also brought joy at home, where dad Manny is a retired footballer who did duty for Benoni United and Orlando Pirates from 1979 to 1988. Younger brother Anthony kits out for University of Pretoria in the National First Division on loan from SuperSport United. Manny – who used the Faria surname as a footballer – was a battlehardened centre-back who stuck to the basics in the same way that his oldest son is doing for AmaKhosi. Gordinho Snr speaks in the collective when mention of his sons is made. “Having played the game myself I have always had an influence, though I never pushed them,” he says. “I actually left it to them to decide because they had so many sporting codes to choose from during their time at school. In the end they went for football. Shouldn’t I be happy that they chose to take the route of football? “Though I played the game myself, what I have noticed is that it is more advanced now, the rules have changed … it is more technical than when I played because all I did was tackle hard and play with commitment. “All that I wish for the boys now is that they both do well in their careers,” says Manny. With the Gordinho siblings born a year apart they have always played in the same age group teams, staring off at Old Benonians then Benoni Northerns, Orlando Pirates juniors and Kaizer Chiefs’ reserve team after which they were then separated. Lorenzo stayed on at Chiefs and was then promoted to the senior team while Anthony left for Ajax Cape Town and then SuperSport, who have loaned him out to AmaTuks for this season. Lorenzo remained a central defender – the position played by his father during his heyday – while his younger brother has been converted from a forward to an attacking midfielder in the NFD. “There is no jealousy amongst us,” says the younger Gordinho. “We help each other in the same way that we also support each other. While I also have ambitions of playing in the PSL next season, I am content with the progress that I have made in the First Division and I am taking lessons from my older brother as well.” He highlights just how his brother waited for his chance and then made use of it when it came. “I am very proud of him and I think he has waited for his opportunity long enough to deserve it all,” Anthony says. “Since he got his chance, he has never looked back. “For someone his age playing in that position, he is very mature when he plays. He seldom gives the ball away, reads the game well and as required of a modern central defender, he is also coming to the party with the goals.” So convinced about his older brother is Anthony that he feels he is ready to make the switch to Europe. Lorenzo, along with Chiefs teammates Ryan Moon, Emmanuel Letlotlo and Siyabonga Ngezana, spent time training with English Championship club Fulham in January. As the only regular amongst the quartet and a holder of a European Union passport (Lorenzo’s father was born in Portugal), the bureaucracy associated with playing in England is lightened for the Chiefs defender. “Being at Fulham was a great opportunity for him and I honestly feel he deserves to be playing in Europe by now,” Anthony says. “At his age and with the kind of performances he has been putting in, I feel he can make it abroad without any doubt. He is ready.” For all the glitz and glamour that comes with having two kids playing professional football, one of them with the most popular club in the country, just how does Manny the dad handle all this? “All I ever do is encourage them to always keep their heads up, keep working hard, stay humble and concentrate on the job at hand. Sometimes we sit together and discuss games that they have played since we always record all the matches they feature in,” says Gordinho Snr. “Regarding the positions that they now play, Anthony has always been a top forward because of his skill. It is because of his skill that he spent time in Brazil with Atletico Mineiro where he could have stayed longer but couldn’t because we no longer have family in Brazil anymore.

“I FEEL HE CAN MAKE IT ABROAD WITHOUT ANY DOUBT.”