Doc’s memory bank: No one could stand in his way

For the first time at Chiefs, as both a player and a coach, I had a player come to me to humbly request to take a penalty in a pressure situation. We were playing the final, second leg of the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup (also known as Mandela Cup) against Angola’s Inter Clube Luanda at Ellis Park Stadium when Patrick approached me to say, “Can I please take this penalty?”. I thought to myself, “You, out of everyone in the team, want to take the responsibility in a do-or-die situation like this?” Remember, this was in the 90th minute with both teams locked at 1-1 from the first leg away in Angola. So that was a very important penalty and we needed to convert it to win the trophy. Patrick was so sure of himself, and no one could stand in his way. I couldn’t believe the confidence he had, and I was more than happy to allow him to take the penalty. Once a player is that sure about something, the best thing to do is to allow them to go ahead instead of putting them off. I had to be professional and understand that the man felt strongly about the spot-kick, and it was only fair that we allow him to take it. Sometimes you must let people know that they are important and that they are part of the team. So, if I had turned his request down, who knows what might have happened? I told him, “Patrick, get that ball and make us proud, please!” Mabedi usually scored penalties but that one, I don’t want to lie, my heart nearly jumped out of my body! The way that ball was slowly going to the goal line like a tortoise, with the goalkeeper well-beaten as he dived to the wrong side, was the longest penalty I had seen in my life! The ball slowly rolled towards the line and what a huge sigh of relief when it finally crossed the line! That man almost gave us a heart attack that day. We couldn’t stop celebrating and it was a special moment for all of us.