Bilankulu eyeing Premiership elite
The Premier Soccer League may be suspended until after the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, but we caught up with the captain of sixth-placed Golden Arrows, Musa Bilankulu, whose main concern after the break, is to lead his side to a top-four finish in the Absa Premiership.
“At this point, anyone can win the league, but we are focused on our team and we need to continue working on our game so that we may be able to achieve our targets. And our main target is remaining in the top four because when you are in the top four, your chances to win the league increase and we stand a better chance of competing with the bigger teams,” said Bilankulu.
When he makes reference to the top teams, one automatically thinks of Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns. Like those sides, the defender believes his team have taken the spotlight as most clubs look to beat them since they were, at some point, leading the standings.
“It puts pressure on us. As long as you know that you are counted as a title contender, everyone will be planning against you. It makes everyone notice us, and although they take us as a small team, we have to maintain our form and performance so we can remain in the top bracket.”
Carrying the weight of your team on your shoulders is always a huge yet awesome responsibility. And a captain can be described as the bridge between the coach and the players, which automatically strengthens the relationship between captain and coach.
“Pressure is always there in everything you do in life, but it is up to you as to how you handle it. This is not my first time being captain, I have been a skipper before, so it is not something difficult for me – there are players who I draw knowledge from, those who I found at the club. They have taught me how to handle pressure and how to handle your team-mates.
“My relationship with Clinton Larsen is good, just like I had good relationships with other coaches who have mentored me. But under coach Manqoba Mngqithi I blossomed and became the player I am because he is the one who gave me my breakthrough. He is the coach whom I played the longest under, together with Mandla Ncikazi,” said the admirer of Barcelona’s Gerald Pique and Paris St Germain’s Thiago Silva.
Arrows are not a club known for winning trophies, but the 6-0 thumping of Ajax Cape Town in the 2009 MTN8 final is Bilankulu’s most glorious moment at work. But, with career highlights, also comes disappointment at some stage.
“Winning the MTN8 was the highlight of my career, but injuries have been disappointing for me in most cases because in 2010 I did not finish the season after suffering an injury – it was the most disappointing moment.”
One may argue that not being part of the national team and failing to draw interest from abroad could be described as a let-down. Bilankulu disagrees.
“Everyone wants to play for the national team, but at the end of the day you have to understand there can only be a certain number of players in the camp. You just need to focus on your game and your team. If you get a call-up, it is a bonus, but if they don’t, you can’t be disappointed – you just need to support those who are playing and keep working hard.
“I wanted to move abroad, but you have to accept that not everyone will play in the PSL and not everyone will play abroad. Wherever you are, you must be grateful.”