It’s a bitter pill to swallow
In any conversation about skilful-players, it would be a big mistake to leave out Mahlatse Makudubela’s name, for what he has displayed in over a decade. Blessed with talent in abundance and passion for the game, Makudubela isn’t showing any signs of slowing down despite having turned 34 last month. For what he has showed during his many years playing in the PSL, it is no wonder his talent was first discovered by Mamelodi Sun down sat a
young age. However, some feel that the midfielder could have reached even greater heights had it not been for coaches who limited the player’ s game time at some of the club she has played for. With team s taking a little long to sign him after parting ways with Marum o Gallants at the end of last season, Skudu went on to put pen to paper with Tanzanian giants Young Africans in July. Last week, the 34-year-old was in Mzansi for the CAFCham pions League clash against Mamelodi Sun down sand Soccer Laduma’s Masebe Qina caught up with him to talk about life in Tanzania, what it feels like playing under ex-Downs coach Miguel Gam ondi, the fans in East Africa and many more.
Masebe Qina: Hola Skudu, it was nice to see one of our own back in the country again even if it was for a short while. How did it feel like?
Mahlatse Makudubela: It was a great feeling to be honest, you know, from the moment I stepped out of the plane and having to greet people in my language and hearing them responding was great. It felt good and having family members coming to visit me at the hotel and other familiar faces, it was really nice to be back in Mzansi, although it was not for pleasure but for business.
MQ: How’s life in Tanzania off the football field?
MM: I think the most important thing for me was to first get used to everyone at the club, and the way they welcomed me made that process easy. They got out of their way to make sure that I felt at home, and that I’m comfortable and short of nothing. The food is also good. They are showing me love and support, and they are cheering and everything, man, it’s good. They really made my, and my family’s stay in the country magnificent to be able to adjust very quickly. I took my family with, and they are with me back in Tanzania, my wife and my son are there with me. Our stay there has been great, and we are well taken care of.
MQ: South African football fans apof preciate your style play, which is more about taking defenders on using your pace and skill as well as the excellent ability to do anything with the ball and leaving people on the ground. Do they like seeing that in Tanzania?
MM: Very much. For those who don’t know, let me start by telling you that in Tanzania they take football like religion. For them football is everything, a way of life. Soon after I arrived, the first thing they did was to give me a nickname, and they call me Waziri wa Raha, which means Minister of Happiness. Whenever I step onto the field, I have to make sure that I give a good account of myself because of knowing that I am not representing only myself, or my family, but also people back home in South Africa. With the love, confidence and everypeople thing that the of Tanzania are giving me, I am really humbled. They enjoy and appreciate what I can do on the football field, which is made possible through a God-given talent. I always make sure that I give them my utmost best to make them enjoy football. I transmit joy whenever I get into the field of play. So, I just play for the benefit of the team and not for myself. Football is a Beautiful Game, and it needs to be enjoyed.
MQ: All your former teammates in the PSL know you as a jovial fellow whose presence in the change room always lift the mood. We’re hearing you are quite shy these days, are you? MM: I get along very well with the guys and there are some characters in the team. We support each other on and off the field. They have accommodated m yp ersonality and that has made my life very easy. I just feel at home and I’m happy for being around them. Whenever I go out, the club’s supporters always stop me to tell me how much they appreciate me. I’m indebted and I’m very thankful to the president of the club who has been phenomenal for the Tanzania Football Federation, my life and my family. He’s doing a great job for the club, and that’s Mr. Hersi Al ly Said I’m talkabout, ing and I’m very thankful to him.
MQ: We were joking, as we know that never in a million years, we would ever see a shy Skudu. What was it like stopping Sundowns in the 0-0 draw at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium recently?
MM: It was always going to be intriguing to come up against Sunachievedowns because of their ments in Africa. It’s a big club with a very big status. We knew that it wasn’t going to be easy on the day. We went out there with the aim of winning the game like we always do when we step onto the field for any other game. Coach Miguel Gamondi is somebody who is very passionate and he’s got a winning mentality. In the end it was a draw, but I thought it was a good result for us, honestly speaking. A 0-0 draw at home against Sundowns wasn’t bad at all and we knew that going into the second leg we would try and score early so that it could be a mountain to climb for them.
MQ: Personally, weren’t you disappointed for missing out on action as you were an unused substitute in that match? MM: Ja, of course, every player wants to play in every match. Be it against Sundowns or Tabora (United) in the league in Tanzania, you always want to play and compete at the highest level. But, yeah, against your former club, which is Mamelodi Sundowns in this instance and in the Champions League, you do want to play (at all costs). As a player you also want to gauge yourself in this high-level competition, high level tournament of high intensity games, it was a little bit disappointing not to play but it was for the benefit of the team at the end of the day. If a team is doing well, it’s not about Skudu and it’s not about having to play against Sundowns, it’s all about Young Africans and the brand itself.
MQ: What did it feel like losing to Sundowns in the second leg and from where you were sitting and how did you feel about the disallowed ‘goal’?
MM: I think everyone saw what happened on Friday night and I can’t say much about the game. I think, with all due respect and all fairness, we won the game within the 90 minutes.
It’s just unfortunate …, and I don’t know why the referee did not go and check the VAR but I think the matter has been taken up with CAF and we will see. It’s just unfortunate that whatever the verdict will be the game will not be replayed. The fact remains that Mamelodi Sundowns progressed. It’s a bitter pill to swallow and what can we do? Such is our football, but, yeah, we’re going back to focus on the league because there’s still a lot to play for there, and there’s also a cup competition to play in Tanzania.
MQ: What is it like playing under Gamondi?
MM: A highly tactical and technical coach who always demands the best out of us. We are improving and learning every day under him, and I think that’s the most important thing. There is a saying that goes, ‘Perfection comes from repeating actions’, so I think you learn everything from coach Gamondi. It’s been very fruitful working under him despite me not getting the desired minutes under my belt.
MQ: Aren’t you concerned that lack of regular game time can affect your future as we understand that you are on a oneyear contract with the club? MM: The good thing is that people who understand and know football will tell you that a team isn’t comprising of only the 11 players on the field. The team isn’t comprising of 13 or 15 players, but the whole squad. So, if you look at the records from the games that I have played, I did very well. I have scored three goals. Look, it’s all up to the club, players come and go. I have had teams that have been enquiring about my services, but I’m fully committed to Young Africans until they say, “Hey Skudu, I think this is the end of the road for us”. Only then I will start assessing my options with regards to the teams that have been enquiring about my services. For now, I am full committed to Young Africans.
MQ: Tell us about the incident where the bus you were travelling in broke down just after leaving the OR Tambo International Airport. MM: (Giggling) I don’t have the full details of what happened but it’s just an unfortunate event of what took place. Things like that do normally happen in football but it’s just that they don’t usually happen to professional clubs. It happened but we moved on from it to focus on the game. It was just for a few minutes, and we got onto the other transport and within minutes we were safe at the hotel.
MQ: We can’t wait to see you back on the field doing what you do best, and all the best, Skudu. MM: Thank you so much my brother and thank you for your time.