I was never the best player

“ITHINKTHAT’S WHATSOME OFTHESE YOUNGSTERS SHOULDLEARN.”

It has been 19 years since Lucas Radebe last stepped onto the Elland Road field to bid farewell to his belov ed Leeds United. Now, at the age of 54, “Rhoo” continues to be the target of a multitude of brands who want to associate themselv es with the former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana great. Soccer Laduma’s Delmain Fav er met up with the rev ered star at the launch of the Lay’s UEFA Champions League experience where the ‘Chief’ shared his secrets, his Champions League experience and why he thinks it’s v ital for the likes of Siphiwe Tshabalala and Teko Modise to carry the baton from his generation.

Delmain Faver: Lucas, you are one of the most loved figures by Soccer Laduma readers and football fans at large. You are here representing Lay’s, a reputable chips brand and a partner of the UEFA Champions League. How did this partnership come about?

Lucas Radebe:

I think first of all is the credibility of the brand, and the quality of the brand. And again, the association, because you don’t actually associate yourself with just everyone. Lay’s is big in football I mean, the (UEFA) Champions League is absolutely massive and that’s the brand we grew up supporting as youngsters. And for me, it’s not about the business side of it, but it’s the relationship with the brand because obviously it goes both ways. It enhances my brand. We’ve got a lot in common in terms of brand connection with communities, which for me is big once you look after your consumers.

DF: You played in the Champions League with Leeds United. Can you just talk us through what it was like playing in the competition?

LR:

For me, it moulds you to the person or a player of your calibre to play against the big players in the world because that’s the highest level apart from the World Cup. That’s massive and there’s a lot of experience to gain when you’re playing against Barcelona when they have (Patrick) Kluivert, when they have great players on their side. And for me it was a learning process, and I wanted to improve and to be better. Those players, week-in and week-out, strived to do better. And I got better myself as a player, which was brilliant and I think it’s one of the most incredible experiences that as a player, as an individual we can have. To be in the spotlight in the highest level, play against the best and representing (a great) club is absolutely amazexperience ing. The is… I can’t deto scribe it, you have be there to be able to know, but it’s a dream come true. Sometimes you pinch yourself and think that: ‘I am playing at the (Santiago) Bernabeu’, but then the stage is not as big because you are not at that level by chance.

DF: What was it like then for you to come back to Bafana Bafana and share a dressing room with local players?

LR: At Bafana Bafana, you can imagine the names that were there, absolutely amazing, very incredible talent and for me that made the team so great because of all those big names, they all played in Europe. The late Shoes (Moshoeu), the late Phil (Masinga), “Mdokies” (Doctor Khumalo), we had such a great understanding, which for me I don’t think we’ll have (again). We have written our own history, and we still have to see others rewrite their own history because we can’t compare those things. Ddifferent era.

DF: At the ev ent, there were lots of other former players like Teko Modise, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Josta Dladla, amongst others, who got to rub shoulders with supporters. It must be a really great feeling to get to rub shoulders with people from different spheres…

LR: No, it’s amazing because I think that is one of the things that you don’t see in the game anymore when you get legends together, from different generations. Obviously, there’s something brewing, which is the quality. For us beinghere,it’snot just for us as legends, but it’s for the consumers. It’s the football family and to be able to be here with Lay’s and give the people the experience, but not only that, but the fans as well. Bring incentives to the fans, give them that excitement. Bring the excitement to the fans, and it’s brilliant. There are great opportunities as well for them to go and watch the Champions League, and for me that’s a good brand that looks after its own people.

DF: What’s the secret to still being relevant after so many years since you retired? At the moment you have partnerships with Discovery, John Craig, Europa League, Cadbury, and now Lay’s. Because a lot of

guys in recent complete obscurity hanging up their

LR:

times disappear into

not long after boots… This industry, football, is cruel. You’ve got the spotlight on you throughout your whole career. It’s a fantastic career. But it’s not about the fame because when you play football, you become famous and all that, you forget about post the game. But I think the most important thing is, it’s not just being a footballer, but making an impact, making a difference as a football player. But that takes a lot of sacrifice.

It takes a lot of commitment and it’s what you realise when you are still active, that makes you who you are post-football. It’s not now that I must decide, no. But it’s when you are still playing, how you behave, how you are in front of the media, how you behave in front of people or how you behave in the field of play because people are watching, yes and they can see the commitment. They can see some great values out of a footballer. I’m not the best. I was never the best footballer ever. There were better footballers in this country. There’s great guys, I’m telling you. I was just a defender but it’s what football meant to me that built the character that I am today, where I knew that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, not just to play the game in the highest level, but to make a living out of the game post my career and that was the most important thing for me.

DF: ‘South African legends’ is a scene that is changing with the likes of Teko, Shabba, Happy Jele and others becoming brands of their own post their careers, joining yourself, Doctor Khumalo and one or two others. What are your thoughts on the influx of new guys?

LR: For different brands, it’s all about the collaboration. They will want individuals to enhance them and vice-versa. And obviously if you’ve done well…I mean, how many players have done great in the game that made their jerseys famous and got proper nicknames and they still did very well wherever they go? To be honest, it’s encouraging to see, because at the end of the day, we’re just an example to the aspiring youngsters that want to play the game and it’s a huge responsibility. But it benefits you as an individual because it builds you, it makes you who you’re supposed to be, not just an overall footballer. Because at the end of the day, when they see you, they see Kaizer Chiefs, they see the national team, but not realizing you’re a father, you’re a brother, a sister, all those in one. So, for me, I think if these players can realize what Teko (Modise) is doing now and not just him…Shabba and Doc are doing well. Those are household names.

DF: How important is it for players to be media-friendly because the Fourth Estate is a double-edged sword, which unfortunately has the power to make or break one’s career?

LR:

We need each other. Who are we without the media? We are wellknown because of the media. Who put us on the front page or the back page? You guys can make us, or you can break us, which is great. But again, on the other side, you are helping us because obviously you guys keep us in line. It’s like having your wife at home because at a certain time, you know I have to go home. For me, that is the relationship - give me your time, I’ll give you mine. Even if it’s a criticism, let it be positive. I mean, it’s like everything else, you guys project the best in us, you project the worst things, which is fair at the end of the day. And I think that relationship, whether you said something wrong, I shouldn’t say, ‘F**k, I’m not talking to you anymore’. I still say with respect, because that’s the most important thing, the respect, it goes a long way and I think that’s what some of these youngsters should learn.

DF: Spoken like a true legend, Rhoo. Thanks a lot for your time.

LR: It’s my pleasure.