I was a little bit disappointed
“He is a very, very good coach and I have a lot to learn from him.”
Bradley Cross, despite being 22 years of age, has enjoyed experiences not many players ever will in their lifetime. Over the course of the last two years, the defender has had the privilege of training at the majestic St James’ Park with the Newcastle United first team. Evidently, this was a bedding-in period for when he made the step up from the Magpies’ reserve side, where his skills were being honed. Unfortunately, that transition never materialised, so the player had to seek another avenue. Enter Mzansi! Having been born and bred in Kempton Park, Gauteng, and been in the youth set-ups of such clubs as Mpumalanga Black Aces (2017) and Bidvest Wits (2018), the lanky lad has resurfaced, albeit at Maritzburg United. This after a trial stint at Kaizer Chiefs did not yield the desired outcome for him. In this interview, Cross tells Soccer Laduma’s Delmain Faver all about his time in England, giving 110 percent to the cause, as well as why he thinks working under coach Fadlu Davids will take his game to the next level.
Delmain Faver: Bradley, you recently made your debut for Maritzburg United, coming on as a second-half substitute against Golden Arrows in a game which you guys eventually won 1-0. Talk us through the feeling.
Bradley Cross: Yeah, most definitely, it was a good feeling, and most importantly, to get the three points right at the end. I really enjoyed it and thank you to Fadlu (Davids, head coach) and Maritzburg for giving me the opportunity to be here.
DF: Speaking of getting three points, your arrival has coincided with a change of fortunes for the club, who picked up three consecutive wins, before the weekend loss to Chippa United. Can you describe the type of change room you walked into when you first started training with the Midlands outfit?
BC:
Well, I suppose when I first came in, there was a lot of pressure on the guys, I could feel, because they weren’t in such a good spot (on the league table) at the time. There was pressure on everyone and I could see it. Everyone was working extremely hard. Whereas now, the more guys have confidence, playing good football under Fadlu. He’s come in and really changed things.
DF: What has changed, in your opinion? Obviously, you weren’t there before when the team was going through that rough patch, but just in the short time that you’ve been there, what would you say are the changes that the new technical team has brought?
BC:
I think when Fadlu came in, he brought a lot of discipline into the team, different ways of playing the game. And obviously he knows, he’s been in the game for a long time. He has sorted things out, implemented a playing style and brought back confidence into the team. He believes in us as well, so that’s a good thing and gives us confidence as well.
DF: In coach Fadlu, you are working under a young mentor who is known to be a big student of the game. How are you finding life under his guidance?
BC:
Very, very good. He believes in me and says he can see my quality, so that’s a good thing, always, to have a coach on your side that believes in you. He is a very, very good coach and I have a lot to learn from him even though I’ve been here for, like, three weeks now. I have learned so much already, so (I am) just trying to improve all the aspects of my game under him.
DF: There were a number of clubs said to be interested in your services before you signed on the dotted line for the Team of Choice. How, then, did this move come about?
BC:
Well, interest came in from their side and Fadlu is a really good coach. I’ve heard from people that I can learn a lot under Fadlu. The interest just came from them, and that’s it, and I decided to make the move.
DF: Prior to joining, you underwent an assessment stint with Kaizer Chiefs. Tell us a bit more about your time at Naturena.
BC:
It was good. The facilities are great. I mean, they have everything there cafe, breakfast before training, lunch after training. It was very nice. I did enjoy it when I was there.
DF: In terms of training, what was the intensity, the competition, like? Just recently, Cole Alexander mentioned that Amakhosi players can really get stuck in at times, to a point where they started training wearing shin guards, something that’s not often seen in the professional ranks. BC: When I came in, I wasn’t fully fit as I came back from two injuries, but I mean, I came in and training was quite intense, to be honest with you. It was very intense, yeah. Cole Alexander is a very aggressive player. When I was there, he kept putting the tackles in, everyone was putting the tackles in there, so yeah, it was quite intense.
DF: How did the club communicate to you their decision of not taking you on board?
BC: I was only there for a couple of days, and I was a little bit disappointed, but I didn’t really get told as to why they weren’t gonna take me on board or (why) they chose not to. But that’s the nature of the game, you can’t be everyone’s cup of tea. I am also a strong believer that everything happens for a reason, and I am here at Maritzburg (now), which I think is a good fit for me. I am really enjoying life under Fadlu and I can feel that I can grow as a player here.
DF: Well, before then, you also trained with SuperSport United. Some said you were on trial there, while other suggestions revealed that you were only keeping fit. Care to clarify?
BC: Yeah, well, (I was) obviously working with Gavin Hunt before I left to Europe. SuperSport gave me a chance to get fit. I wasn’t on trial there. The agreement was to get fit, so yeah…
DF: Of course, you were part of a promising academy team at the nowdefunct Bidvest Wits. So, how did you find training under coach Gavin this time around,?
BC:
I came back to the same Gavin Hunt. I mean, training is intense. How would you say? It’s hard to explain, but yeah, he is a good coach. He has won many trophies in the game, he has been a long time in the game.
DF: Prior to your return to South Africa, you were on the books of Newcastle united, where you played for their reserve side for two years. One can imagine just how much of a learning curve that must have been. How would you describe your time at the Magpies?
BC: 100 percent. I really enjoyed it when I was there, and I learned a lot from when I was there from the beginning to the end. I was learning each and eve ry day from the coaches there and. Very professional set-up, I enjoyed it so much.
DF: You got the opportunity to train with their first team on a number of occasions. What was the experience like and how far off do you think you were from forming part of the senior side? BC: When I went to the first team for the first time, I was very nervous. When I got there, (at) training everyone is just technically so good. The intensity was like a big, big jump for me. Training with the first team, all the players, they do the basics so well. I mean, one-, two-touch. Everyone is smart, decision-making is so good.
DF: Brilliant. BC: I also trained with the likes of (Allan) SaintMaximin and Jonjo Shelvey – those guys are so good. It was a good experience training there. I trained there for a couple times towards the end of my first season and then obviously in (terms of) the direction the club was going, you are not everyone’s cup of tea, like I said before, but it’s all part of the game.
DF: Being so close to that elite level in Europe, one would think you would then opt to remain in Europe. What inspired the decision to return to South Africa?
BC: My first thought was to establish myself as a first-team player. I mean, I came back from two injuries, and I just wanted to establish myself as a first-team player, grow in the game and at Maritzburg, I think I can definitely improve all aspects of my game. So, definitely, that was my choice.
DF: Now that you are you hoping to of the season?
BC: Firstly, I would like to help the team as much as possible and give 110 percent every day. Even though the results have been good, I still think there is a lot of work to be done and I think it is going to take a collective effort all-round. And when I’m called upon, I’m going to definitely give 110 percent, help the team out as much as possible. I’m here to learn and grow as much as possible too. There’s experienced players and coaches here, from which I can learn and just try and improve all aspects of my game. ❐