That must never happen again

Walter Mabeba. Bra Shakes, it was very sad for the South African Football fraternity to see a club of Moroka Swallows’ calibre being relegated from the elite league in 2015. As a legend of the side, how did that feel?

Shakes Mashaba: I think that is a very important and critical point to talk about. For a club of Moroka Swallows to go down the drain, with all the kind of resources they had, it was really a bad feeling. I failed to come to terms (with it) and it was very hard to believe. Before that, with the experience I have, I tried to think what one can do to help, but unfortunately at that time, one was not involved with the club. You know when things don’t go well, some people don’t normally take advise. They will think that they will do it themselves to strike it rich so that they get accolades to say they have achieved to save the club. But all in all, as legends of that club, it was unbelievable to see the club that we represented with such distinction just going down like that. Unfortunately, we never got a chance to sit down together always, but we spoke through telephone calls or when we bumped against each other. But what came out of our discussions is that our hearts were bleeding. We were talking about where we came from with the club. I mean, in my generation, we had a superb team. We were in finals and won some trophies. Yes, except Finkie Sekete, our surnames started with the letter ‘M’, and that is why we were called the “Massacres”. Finkie Sekete is known “MaThousand” in football circles, it was because his surname started with a letter S, and it means thousand in English. So, we called him “MaThousand” to try and accommodate him and at least for his ‘surname’ to also start with the letter M, ha, ha, ha.

WM: Yes, we remember that was the team that won the 1979 BP Top 8 but unfortunately lost to Orlando Pirates in the 1980 Mainstay Cup final. What was so special about that team?

SM:

We were given hope to make everyone special. There was no player who was regarded as better than the others. We also made our supporters so special that they felt part and parcel of that team. Having said that, I think one of the reasons Moroka Swallows got relegated was that the people who we running the club by then, their doors were not open for advices, especially when coming to the legends of club. I always wanted to emphasise that to all the clubs. There are people that we call the Masters or legends of the club – those people must not be regarded as people of the past. At times, those people must be given time to come and address the players. It is very important for the current crop of players to know the culture of their respective clubs, and I think that can make a difference. You look at overseas clubs, they are looking well after their former players. You can see when watching their games they will show an area where their legends are accommodated. But all I can say is that that must never happen again to Moroka Swallows. I hope the new management has learned from the mistakes of the past management, who took the club to the drains. So far, the management of the club are on the right track. It was something to enthuse about to see the club back in the PSL and more especially regaining their original Moroka Swallows name.

WM: Sure. SM:

Remember, Walter, you were part of us, legends of the club, when we were called to Dobsonville Hall after the club regained their status in the PSL (topflight). You could see the passion of the supporters who were happy to see us, and also celebrating the return of the club in the PSL. One could see that they missed those moments of going to the stadium with the Maroon And White regalia, to cheer their players

Formed in 1947, and having only ever won the league championship once, way back in 1965, Moroka Swallows’ most successful era was undoubtedly the late ’70s right through to the 1980s. For starters, they won the BP Top Eight Cup on two occasions, in 1975 and 1979. The Sales House Cup was won in 1978 and the prestigious Mainstay Cup triumph in 1983. The Bob Save Superbowl also found a home in the nest in 1989 and 1991. Then followed 2004 Absa Cup, 2009 Nedbank Cup and 2012 MTN8 triumphs. Besides the trophies, the team was most famous for

on. And now that the club is back, the management of the team must know that two heads are better than one. You know with other people, they believe that, “I started this thing and no one can tell me.” If we could learn to consult. Like I said, as Masters we can play a big role in helping the management to succeed with their revival of the club. I spoke about the culture and one knows about what kind of players they need and what type of football they are playing. It is not about who you have in the team but what they can do for the team to succeed. The problem is that we have given so much power to the agents to build up the teams. Those people the superb carpet football they played. Relegation from the big league in 2015 brought tears of agony and disbelief. But there was to be no arresting the slide, as the side found themselves competing in the dreaded ABC Motsepe League, with headlines screaming: “The birds are no longer flying. It was difficult to imagine they would ever come back, but come back they did, and the name Moroka Swallows has been reclaimed. and if it was the end of this one strong brand that once took its place on the pantheon of South African Football. Soccer Laduma’s Walter Mabeba caught up with the legendary Shakes Mashaba to talk all things Dube Birds!

are there for money, not for the team to succeed. Moroka Swallows was not a team to fight for relegation. They were always in the top four of the league and contesting for trophies.

WM: The team finished in the Top Eight last season under the tutelage of Musa Nyatama. What did you make of this achievement? SM: Firstly, let me say bravo to Musa Nyatama, he did very well. But now for him to be wherever he was, it is a good idea that the management bolstered him with the appointment of the experienced Steve Komphela so that he can learn more from him. As a former player, Musa did well for himself. For instance, when was still playing, I became a player-coach at both Pirates and Swallows before I could get all the qualifications I have. I also heard that Morgan Mammila, who was appointed as the Technical Director, wanted to take the accolades of finishing in the top four for himself. That is why I always say give everyone a hope that he is special. Here’s Nyatama doing well, then you bring somebody who is pompous. He looks at Nyatama and then he thinks he is better than him. Once more, bravo to Nyatama. I know Bra Steve Komphela, I worked with him in the junior national teams, and he has a good ear. He listens and his comments can boost someone’s confidence. Nyatama has to stick to Komphela and give him a chance to guide him. I have this belief that if I am a head coach, my so-called assistants are not my ball boys. If there is something they are not happy about, they have to talk. Coaching is also a teamwork. With the knowledge that Nyatama has, I believe Komphela will add more for him to become better.

WM: The management brought in new players in the shape of Tshegofatso Mabasa, Gabadinho Mhango and Andile Jali.

SM:

Like I said before, in a team it is not about who you have but what he can do for the team. You can have all the big names but not achieve anything. Once you have all three big names, one thing that you have to be careful with is it must not affect the team spirit. As a coach, you have to be careful how you talk to them and how you treat them individually. You have to make them all feel important. You have to believe that they can do something equally. Yes, the players that they have brought in, on paper, they are good players. They can achieve anything, but the question is, are they ready for that? That’s what coach Steve and Musa need to look at. Like I said, we have our living legends, such as Joel “Ace” Mnini, Sekete, Steve Sekano, to mention a few, who can be assigned with the task of coming to address the players with the hope of motivating and making them understand how important it is to wear that Moroka Swallows jersey and what they can do to make the team succeed. Yes, supporters want to see the team winning, but they also want to see the type of football Moroka Swallows is renowned for. Let’s talk about Mamelodi Sundowns. They have all the bigname players. One can see that when they are playing, there is that element of respect. They die for one another and they have one thing in common, (and) that is winning. Talking about Andile Jali, I worked with him in the past. The only problem I have with him, he has to work on his temper. As the captain, he has to be able to build that link between the players and the technical team. There is no doubt that Andile is a very good player and a leader, but if he can work on his temper, he will succeed in leading the team.

WM: Lastly, what is your message to the management, technical team and players for them to succeed in their revival process?

SM:

Firstly, Komphela worked at Sundowns and won some silverware with the club. He knows it all. One can see from far that Sundowns are investing in success. They think of nothing else but a win and to be successful. That is what Swallows need to do. At the same time, the management of the club needs to make sure that the players are happy, especially in terms of their salaries. To the technical team, let them be given a chance to prove how good are they in running the team. In the past, we have heard of some management of some teams interfering with the technical team, and that needs to be avoided. It is a new team, new coach and it won’t be an overnight thing to achieve success. Patience will play a very important role also.

IS THAT PROBLEM “THE MUCH GIVEN SO WE HAVE AGENTS THE POWER TO UP THE TEAMS. TO BUILD ARE PEOPLE THOSE MONEY” THERE FOR

WM: Bra Shakes, thanks for your time. Let’s hope your encouraging words won’t fall into deaf ears.

SM: My pleasure, Walter. You are always welcome.