Benni’s influence
BJansen says what hurts him the most is what w continues to happen in the community of o Hanover Park, but insists he will not be discouraged d in trying to make a difference.
The joy of talking about his football career i s visible for Jansen, born in Hanover Park as the t last child in a family of six kids.
From starting out as a striker at Crusaders J Juniors, partnering childhood friend Benni M McCarthy, to playing as a defender and h holding midfielder in the PSL, and even s spending time at Dutch club Feyenoord and A Altay of Turkey.
He won promotion with Seven Stars to the P PSL in 1998, lifted the 2000 Rothmans Cup w with Ajax, and then added the BP Top Eight a and ABSA Cup at Santos.
In Seven Stars’ first season in the PSL he was a regular, rubbing shoulders with Eddie Dinha, Kaitano Tembo, Bennet Masinga, John Goodwin, Fani Madida, Mike Mhlanga, Mike Allen, Bernard Gama, Andile Sixaba and the late Clifford Moleko.
“I remember when I was about 16 or 17, Benni said, ‘Maya, my bro, you must come to Nyanga’. Benni was already at Seven Stars but he knew me from Hanover since we played together on the streets and even in the Sunday League.
“The following Tuesday I took a BMX and cycled with my boots to Nyanga Stadium for the first time. Nobody knew me but I hit the top corner twice and they started asking themselves who this boy was.
“They found out I was from Hanover Park and they invited me the next week. Since I played as a striker back then I scored five goals when I came back. I played with Benni upfront at the Bayhill Cup the year when there was a Germany team at the tournament.
“But then at Seven Stars, [coach] Gavin Hunt told me he would make me the best wingback in the world and made me play in his six studs from day one.
“I was at Feyenoord for a few months, then went on trial in Turkey with Mfundo Mathonsi while at Ajax. The new Slovakian coach who took over thought I was too small for a central defender and right-back. He didn’t trust blacks to play at the back.
“Then I was called once to the national team but never played. It was all good man,” he concludes.