Why Makaringe is Maritzburg’s hero
Midfielder had to choose between teaching, football
In the heart of Maritzburg United’s midfield, Fortune Makaringe has been one of their unsung heroes as the Team of Choice continued to punch above their weight this season.
Fourth on the log and in their first Nedbank Cup final – they face Free State Stars in Cape Town on May 19 – their players have impressed.
While the likes of Siphesihle Ndlovu, Lebohang Maboe and Siyanda Xulu have received rave reviews, Makaringe, with 34 appearances to his name this campaign, has not really been the talk of town except for a complimentary comment on social media now and then.
Not that he’s bothered, though. After all, he’s just, as his name would suggest, fortunate that he’s playing football, because he could well be in the classroom teaching kids.
Born 24 years ago to parents from Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga, he grew up in Vosloorus on the East Rand and played for a string of teams before his big break three years ago.
He counts amateur sides Home Sweepers, Chelsea, Arsenal and Boksburg United among his former teams before he was scouted by Moroka Swallows at age 15 in 2008.
Things didn’t go according to plan at Swallows and Makaringe returned home to play for Golden Boys in the SAB League, but Swallows took him back in 2014. The second opportunity, however, came at a time when he had already committed himself to studying for a teachers’ degree at University of Johannesburg, which meant a balancing act. Not easy.
By the time Maritzburg came knocking in January 2015, Makaringe was already a teacher, albeit for a single day!
“I got a job at Buhle Park High School in Germiston and my first day was my last day.
“I remember that day well, because it was my mom’s birthday [January 12]. I got a call from Maritzburg asking me to come down [to Pietermaritzburg]. I was signed at the time Steve Komphela was the head coach working with Mandla Ncikazi and Siya Mdluli. So I quit teaching, but the head of department, BZ Tlhakanelo, gave me her blessings to leave.”
Even though he didn’t reveal the figure, Makaringe had to settle for a salary that was lower than a teacher’s. But football was his dream and after many years of struggling to break into the professional ranks, he stuck to the beautiful game, with some reservations.
“My mom [Ivy Makhosi] wanted me to pursue education and my father [Elliot Mqochwa] was keen on me becoming a pro footballer. But I felt that I would fulfil both their wishes because I got some education and even found a job. Then there was the Maritzburg offer so that would fulfil my father’s wish.
“So I owed him,” said Makaringe, who still needs experiential training to graduate.
“In my first week at Maritzburg, I spoke to the manager [Quintin Jettoo] and told him I wanted to go back to teaching.
“He said to me, ‘the money we are giving you may not be enough, but with your talent you can, over time, make the money in football that will take you years to make in teaching. So, think about your talent’. I decided to stick with what I always wanted to do, which is to play football,” Makaringe said.
True to Jettoo’s words, Makaringe, who had initially joined on a two-year deal, was rewarded with a new contract after two seasons with the club.
Having waited all this time, Makaringe is happy to bide his time and with his midfield partners Maboe and Ndlovu having been called up for national duty previously, he’s encouraged.
‘‘ I decided to stick with what I wanted ... football