Secrets of the Stars

Lamontville Golden Arrows defender Trevor Mathiane reveals all the secrets about his disciplined upbringing, the origins of his nickname and how he became a supporter of the blue half of Merseyside in the English Premier League.

Ten things you didn’t know about Trevor Mathiane

1 Matome Trevor Mathiane was born in Bochum, a little town situated almost 100km northwest of Polokwane, Limpopo. SuperSport United defender Tefu Mashamaite and Punch Masenamela of Baroka are also from the same area, with the former’s home within walking distance from 2 Mathiane’s. Mathiane relocated to Gauteng in his early teens in the chase for better schooling opportunities, settling in Daveyton, Benoni, where his parents were residing. Mathiane’s parents are employed at the South African Police Service in Benoni. It meant the Lamontville Golden Arrows defender was brought up in a strict home, which is reflected by his behaviour up to now. He neither smokes nor drinks and still attends the Roman Catholic Church, having had a Christian upbringing. “I still make the effort of going to church whenever time allows,” he says. 3 The 28 year-old is the first-born in a family of four children (three boys and one girl). His eldest brother is studying engineering while the other two are still in school. Mathiane holds a Sports Management diploma, which he hopes will come in handy when his playing days are over. 4 He proudly mentions the retired duo of Jabu Mahlangu and Clement Mazibuko – who both have roots in Daveyton – as having been two former players that moulded him into the footballer that he is today. It was in his late teens playing football that he was nicknamed “Roadblock” for the obvious reason that he has always been a defender who obstructs forwards from having an easy passage to goal. 5 His first salary playing football was R1 000 that he earned while playing for Benoni Spurs in the SAB League, which essentially covered his transport needs along with buying toiletries. His earnings improved while playing for Benoni Premier United’s reserve team and Vardos FC. 6 Like a lot of talented kids from Daveyton, he was once taken to the Kaizer Chiefs development by the famous Mahlubi Mehlomakhulu, starting off at Under-15, but then left the club after being promoted to the Under-17s as his football programme clashed with his studies.7 Mathiane is a father to a six-year-old boy and states that he is currently in a steady relationship. 8 He has never travelled out of South Africa, but his first flight didn’t come about through football: his family once flew to Cape Town for a holiday while he was still in high school. 9 Since acquiring his driver’s license seven years ago, he now cruises around in a BMW 320i and is planning to go into property investment when he is done with renovating his parents’ house. 10 He says he thinks he is one of the few Everton fans in South Africa, having adopted The Toffees as a little kid, and was attracted to them because of their style of play and the fact that they provide the opposition to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. (He’s not alone, KICK OFF’s very own Nick Said is a voracious Toffee).