It is a concern for me
On the club’s unbeaten run being halted
Ja, it was going to happen because even when we planned prior to this season in the DStv Premiership, we based our targets on five games. So, out of five games, we expected at least nine points and I can safely say we achieved more than that. The coach has done well, we have not lost a game, so it had to happen. So, out of our planning, we were supposed to have lost four games already and we have not lost any, so it was going to happen.
On the players’ reaction to Nedbank Cup loss
They were very disappointed because they wanted to go far in this competition and even win it, you know. Because even when I spoke to them, I asked them, “What do you guys want with this competition?” They said, “No, we want to go all the way and win the competition.” So, they were very disappointed with the loss. I think they are going to make up for it in our next games. The games will not be easy, but they’ll try and redeem themselves there.
On six consecutive league draws
It is a concern for me, but I don’t think it should be for the coach. I believe that we don’t have a striker, because if (Ruzaigh) Gamildien is closed (down) and there’s two players marking him, there is no one else to score. So, we then say I need to work with the coach to find a striker or somebody that can score goals for us. So, we need to make sure that if Gamildien doesn’t score, then someone else can come in and score those goals. Gamildien might even go to another club, you know, who knows? So, we need to make sure that there’s cover and that that person is prepared now. We are making sure that we are getting someone who is preparing to come and score those goals when they are not available from our regular players.
On his impression of coach Truter so far
Look, they’ve adjusted well because remember the coach comes from the GladAfrica Championship, but the good thing is that he kept half of the squad who are still with us. They have not left the squad. So, they are gelling, they are working together and they understand each other, so it’s important that this happens. That is why the team does well because the coach is there and half of players are there and, more importantly, the senior players are there, so we are happy with that.
On the club’s quiet January/ February transfer window
You know, I can put that down to two things. One, the clubs have signed played that they want, Swallows included. We feel that we have the players that we need to complete the season. Two, it’s the budgeting factor. Remember now we are in COVID-19, we are spending money on games and we cannot recover that money anywhere. You know that the Chairman of the League, Dr (Irvin) Khoza, said that on average, we are spending about R300 000 to play a match and you cannot recover that money. The PSL grant is R2 million, which is basically for logistics. You still have to pay salaries, so you cannot be very active in the market because you still have to find the money to buy those players. The players that are available are contracted, so to get them out of contract, you have to buy them, which is problematic. Now the best thing for us to do is wait for the season to end and then start transacting from there.
On ambitions of securing sponsorship next season
We basically don’t have a sponsor because the company that is on the jersey is my company and I’m the one funding the club. You know, to make sure the club is sustainable, you have to have a sponsor. So, we are in the final stages (of negotiations) with our (potential) sponsor. There is a company interested in sponsoring Swallows FC, so we are having our final meeting on Friday to iron out all the issues and we should be making an announcement soon. Without a sponsor, and I will not be sugar-coating this… yes, it does put us at risk of losing some of our players because if we have a player or two and there is a club that is willing to pay, we are obviously going to look at the offer and say let’s protect the club, sell those two players and make sure that the club is sustainable. But obviously it affects your momentum because you are losing key players. No club buys a player that has been sitting on the bench, so they want the players that are active. So, we have to now make sure that we have cover in all the positions so that when we are approached for a player, we don’t say no because obviously we need the money to run the club.
On the club possibly losing some players
Look, we have planned and looked at different scenarios and said if this player who is on loan goes away, we already have a player that is going to slot into that position. We also have our players that were out on loan, whom we believe are key players that Swallows are going to use but just not at this time. We’ve got Mthokozisi Shwabule that played with us in the GladAfrica Championship. He basically played every game and when he was not there, it was visible. We loaned him out to Cape Town All Stars. There’s also Sphe Ndlovu, who scored a crucial goal in the bubble that sank Ajax Cape Town (now Cape Town Spurs). So, those players will be coming back from loan and they’ll be covering the key positions that would have been left by some of these players who may be going away to other teams. So, we are covering ourselves, preparing and making sure we look at cover from other teams.
Robert Lew andw oski has w on everything there is to w in over the past 12 months or so. The sextuple w ith Bayern Munich, the top goalscorer crow ns in the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and UEFA Champions League competitions, the UEFA Player of the Year and the Best FIFA Men’s Player prizes, and he w ould probably also have lifted the Ballon d’Or if it had been handed out. How ever, there is one record he has been chasing for quite some time now . Back in the 1971/72 season, legendary Bayern and Germany striker Gerd Muller, also know n as “Der Bomber”, scored an incredible 40 goals in just 34 Bundesliga appearances. This record has faced many challengers, but so, far everyone has failed. This season, though, Lew andow - ski is on track to break the incredible milestone, and in this feature, David Kappel analyses his chances of doing so.
“There were two guys who were treating me bad…”
“I like everything about Pirates… the club suited me a lot.”
Following his unsuccessful three-year spell with Orlando Pirates, Gugulethu-born midfielder Yanga Baliso left our shores in 2019 to ply trade in Finland. The 23-year-old Ajax Cape Town youth development product says he has no regrets about how things turned out for him at the Buccaneers, although he had expected to join the first team when he was lured from the Mother City outfit in 2016. Baliso says he is a phone call away should Pirates chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza want him back. In this interview, Baliso speaks to Soccer Laduma’s Masebe Qina about his troubles in the youth ranks at the Ikamva-based club, the cold-blooded murder of his father, as well as moving in with the late Anele Ngcongca when he almost went off the rails in Gauteng.
Masebe Qina: You have been in Finland since 2019. How have you been finding things there?
Yanga Baliso:
It has not been easy when it comes to adjusting to the weather side of things, but with the football side of things, it has been great and, technically, I’ve always matched their standard.
MQ: How did the move to Pargas IF, the club you signed for when you first came there, happen?
YB:
I had a contract with (Orlando) Pirates and my dad passed away, so I decided to move away from South Africa. We terminated the contract and I went to Sweden to try out at one of the clubs, but the timing was not right as both teams I went to were in a financial crisis. Then I got a call from a coach in Finland, Stefan Strömborg, and he said I should come to his club. So, that’s how it happened.
MQ: When did your father pass away and what happened?
YB:
In 2019 – Ajax (Amsterdam) were playing against Tottenham (Hotspur) that day. I was on loan at Cape Umoya (United) from Pirates at the time. The incident took place in the township and I was in Cape Town. He was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was watching a football match with a group of friends when gunmen stormed into the house and opened fire. Initially, they shot only their target and went out. But they quickly went back to the house on realising that they were known to some of the people they were leaving behind and it was then that they started shooting everyone who was there, including my father, to destroy the evidence. I wasn’t fine after that.
MQ: We can imagine, and we’re truly sorry to hear about that. Were the perpetrators brought to book?
YB:
Some of them died, and one is in jail. They were not even older guys, and they were my age, some of them. Only one of the people survived from those that were in the house after spending some time in coma in hospital. I know the guys who did that and it’s just that there’s nothing I can do about what happened. They are from there ekasi (in the township).
MQ: Did you see them after what happened?
YB: I used to see some of them before they died. They wouldn’t even look at me in the eye. You know, these guys have groups and some of the friends of those who died are still around. They become nervous when they see meandlookatmeasif I am thinking of doing something to them, but I am not. I can see that some of them have regrets about what their friends did. I just look at them and say to myself, ‘But what your friends did was not nice.’
MQ: You were nurtured at the Ajax Cape Town academy. How was your time there?
YB: Honestly speaking, for a young lad like me, coming from the township and getting such an opportunity was a blessing. I was grateful to get that opportunity to be part of such an institution. To be developed by two of the best coaches in the business, in David Nyathi and Duncan Crowie, was great. I feel like today I am this player that I am because of them. Ajax played a big role in my development by taking us to those tournaments abroad. I learnt so much from those tournaments and it was an eye-opener for us to be part of them.
MQ: How is it that you ended up at Bucs without having played for Ajax’s (now Cape Town Spurs) first team? YB: To be honest, Ajax did want to promote me. But before they could promote me, I was going through a rough season with the coach that was coaching me at the time, but I wouldn’t want to mention his name. There were two guys who were treating me bad and mydadwasfedupandIwasalsofed up, because I used to come home crying and asking myself why I was getting that kind of treatment. I would watch the team week in and week out not performing, but I was not playing. That used to frustrate me a lot. I remember this other time, we went abroad for a tournament and I was not in the squad and coach Roger de Sa decided that I had to be in the squad. So, in the end, I travelled with the team and, when we got there, I didn’t play the first game and I came on as a substitute in the second game. From there, they (technical team) came into our rooms for meetings and reminded us about what we were there for and asking us why we were not doing so well in the tournament. I just said something that triggered their minds. After that, I started playing every single game from Holland and to Germany. When we came back, they started talking to me about a PSL contract, but I had already made up my mind that I didn’t want to stay anymore. I was prepared to go and take on another venture somewhere else.
MQ: What did you say to the technical team that sparked a revival in your fortunes?
YB: I just told the coach that what I saw there was that there was no hunger in the team. I said it looked like people (the players) thought they were there for (a) vacation or something.
MQ: After leaving Ajax, you surfaced at Pirates…
YB: No one knew that I was going to Pirates and, even now, nobody knows how the move happened and I don’t want to mention names. It was done behind doors.
MQ: Was your late father involved in the move?
YB: I think he was the reason I went there. He wanted me to go there more than going overseas. At that time, I had an option to go to Djurgardens in Sweden. My contract was coming to an end with the Ajax reserve side. Djurgardens were willing to sign me and pay the compensation fee to Ajax, but Ajax was reluctant… you know these people.
MQ: What do you mean ‘you know these people’?
YB: I mean I know how football people operate. I’m just talking about the football industry in general and the business side of things about it, and it’s got nothing to do with any racial issues or anything like that.
MQ: Hmmm. Tell us more about signing for the Soweto giants in 2016.
YB: It was a first team contract. But I was confused, and I thought I was going straight to the first team, but I guess because it’s a big club with a big squad, I had to start in the reserve team. But I didn’t mind at all playing in the reserve team because I had a great time training and playing with a group of talented young lads like Ricardo Lourenco, Saketso Moremi and Philani Zila. Those are the players for the future, and I learnt a lot during my time at the club. When I got to Jo’burg, I developed other strengths that I don’t think I had when I was still in Cape Town. I didn’t know that I had dribbling ability until I got there. Those guys used to take me to ekasi (township) to play in social games.
MQ: Did everything you hoped for about that move unfold as per your expectations?
YB: (Sighs) Eish… To be quite honest, I think I had a great time at Pirates. I think everyone there liked me and I don’t think anyone had a bad blood against me or anything like that. I just think that I needed a coach who would come and give me a chance in the first team. But
I’m not blaming anyone for not giving me a chance in the first team and it’s not a club that I would say I cannot go to again. If ever I go back to South Africa and the Chairman (Dr. Irvin Khoza) calls me and says he wants me back and I should come and play for Pirates, I would still go back to the club. it’s a very big club and I like their style of play. I like everything about Pirates, I think the club suited me a lot. The only difficult thing I think I was facing was being in a big city like Johannesburg with all the temptations and everything. I would like to thank the late Anele (Ngcongca) because he took me under his wing. He took me from the club’s house to stay with him. I am grateful for what he and his partner did for me.
MQ: Did you, at any stage, find yourself in a place you think you should not have been at, which might have led to the late Ngcongca taking you in to stay with them?
YB:
I think that was not the reason he took me in. I think he anticipated that if I stayed alone for longer, I was going to go off the rails. I think I faced certain temptations and I did a couple of things, and not the stuff that is bad, but like focusing more on other crazy stuff like going out. I think I off-railed in terms of losing focus, but not to an extent that I was a problem or that the club was complaining or anything. It was just a loss of focus here and there,butIwasneverlate for training and I was never that kind of a player. I always knew what I was there for. There were times when I would be frustrated and wished that I could get my debut in the first team and, at the time, the team was not doing really well.
MQ: When you left for Pargas IF, was there any agreement that you would return to the club on coming back?
YB:
No, there was no agreement about that, and I got the club’s blessing when I left. It’s just how I feel about the club. I love the club and I would still like to wear the badge again. It’s a big badge, but if I don’t (return to Pirates) and if there are other teams that want me to play for them, I will do so. For instance, if Cape Town City can be interested, I would love to play for a team with fans from Cape Town, as someone who is also coming from there.
MQ: During your time with the Buccaneers, did you at least train with the first…
YB:
(Cuts in) Yeah, I trained with the first team and I worked with Micho (Milutin Sredojevic) and I had trained under the coach from Sweden whose name I have forgotten now (Kjell Jonevret). It was during the time with him and Jazzy Queen (Harold Legodi). So, I trained with Pirates under coaches Micho and Rhulani (Mokwena). I also think that the influence of Benson Mhlongo played a role and I would safely say that I was one of his favourite players. I am a player he believed could bring something to the club.
MQ: How have things been in Finland at your current club, FK Mariehamn, and what’s the length of your contract?
YB:
I signed for two years and oneyear option. In the first season, I didn’t get much game-time, but injuries were the main cause for that. But now that I’m injury-free and more focused, I’m getting more game-time and the coach is involving me a lot as a playmaker of the team and I can see which direction he wants us to go.
To discuss this inter view with Masebe, tweet him on
balling city of Manchester, a debt he needs to pay. Batsirai Kativu, Johannesburg
You will never keep a good man down. Gareth Bale is getting back to his fitness and sharpness and he is about to show the world what he is capable of, once again. Siyabonga Nkalambela, Delft
Steven Gerrard has been fair to Bongani Zungu. Alas, our beloved son of the soil spat on his face, ignoring COVID-19 rules in camp. He knows he is on loan, with the hope of securing a permanent contract. He is not serious. This tells me perhaps he was never interested in staying on at Rangers. If so, why did he tarnish his name like that? Who will be interested in his services? Europe is not like South Africa where the team would rather fire a coach than a player. Chances of seeing Zungu in the English Premier League are really slim now. We had Benni McCarthy, Steven Pienaar, Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish, Shaun Bartlett, Sibusiso Zuma (in Denmark) – they are all still recognised and respected in Europe. Instead of guiding youngsters, Zungu parties with them. Rangers is a big team in Scotland and he’s lucky they haven’t shown him the door. Terah Maqepula, Mount Fletcher
Quick One-Two’s
What a choice, doing a feature about Njabulo Ngcobo being a target of several top teams in the PSL (Soccer Laduma, edition 1212). As a Swallows die-hard fan, I feel the timing of the article is tantamount to sabotage. Of course, his performances have caught many people’s attention, but it doesn’t warrant such publicity as said article. Yes, Chiefs contributed to Swallows getting promoted to the topflight by lending them their players while they were campaigning in the GladAfrica Championship and we thank them for that, but they should have approached Swallows privately regarding Ngcobo. I think the targeted player might lose focus at this stage of the season, especially as the second round is in full swing. Hear me out, there would be nothing wrong about the player going for greener pastures, just not that kind of talk at this stage of the campaign. It is exactly the same as what Pitso did last season when Maluleka was lured to Sundowns. The latter was a vital cog in Chiefs’ machinery and, as a result, they were derailed by losing such a player before the completion of the season. It cost Chiefs big time, as is by now well known. I’m afraid Swallows may suffer the same fate. To add salt to injury, it looks like a few more players ‘parked’ at Swallows will be returning to Chiefs. We have resigned ourselves to losing a few of our regular players, as I guess that’s the nature of dealings in the game, but we will soldier on with what we have. Swallows has a good bunch of players, technical team and management. In the case of departures, we will keep faith in them. Up the Birds! Thabang Lehoko, Johannesburg
Swallows lost against improving TTM. It is our first defeat since March last year, albeit on penalties. But hey, a defeat is a defeat, no matter which way you lost the game. I just hope this serves as a wake-up call. Musa Zondi Newtown, Tongaat
After registering a crucial league win against Arrows, Leopards are looking in good nick. I watched their game against AmaZulu and was very impressed with the discipline shown. Furthermore, I was impressed by the performance of the senior players from both teams. Masilela, Mzava and “RamaG” showed that you can’t buy experience. Chawapiwa and Hlongwane also showed glimpses of brilliance. TTM’s fortunes are also showing an improvement after the change of management and it’s good for Limpopo. I had hoped the Limpopo teams would avoid each other in the quarterfinals because the province deserves something. ME Boya, Kanana, Hammanskraal
It’s so pleasing to watch Khanyisa Mayo play. He’s got a very educated left foot. How he sprays passes, takes set pieces and shoots, it’s absolutely out awesome. I wish someone is watching. In the same breath, I must say the Nedbank Cup is always surprising. On paper, it would be expected that a certain team would beat their opponents, only for the worst to occur. Siyabonga Nkalambela, Delft
I don’t know why both SABC and DStv failed to televise the games of our teams playing in CAF competitions, yet have the guts to show us Bundesliga games. Are CAF games of less importance? Secondly, the state of HM Pitje Stadium and Charles Mopeli Stadium is of a major concern and I think the respective municipalities should do something about these two stadiums. Those venues carry a lot of great memories and some of Mzansi’s greatest ever players made their debuts there. Think Bunene Ngaduane of Qwa-Qwa Stars and Sam “Ewie” Kambule, to mention just two. Tente Mokoka, Sepharane
I think it’s now time that SAFA, if not South Africa as a republic, honour Jomo Sono for his contribution to the Mzansi football fraternity. Jomo’s name should be recognised. He’s been