Masuluke will always treasure THAT goal
It has been a good three months since Oscarine Masuluke scored the now famous goal with a spectacular overhead kick to salvage a point for Baroka FC against Orlando Pirates but he still fields questions from fans about it and says he enjoys it.
“I can’t help it if people enjoyed it so much they want to discuss it. I play for their entertainment and if they want to talk to me, I have no problem. I have not changed, I am still a young boy I was before I scored that goal,” said the 23-year-old goalkeeper.
His goal was stuff that dreams are made of. It was the very last minute when Baroka got a corner kick. Masuluke ran all the way to the other end. A cross came in and was headed away by Pirates but the ball fell in front of him just as he was turning to run back to his goal, and he just latched onto it with an overhead kick that probably left a few strikers green with envy.
The goal made him an instant celebrity and it was applauded all over the world, with some nominating it for the Fifa Puskas Award.
“That really humbled me because all I was doing was for the team. It was a spur-ofthe moment thing and fortunately for me it worked out,” he says.
Like every player, Masuluke dreams of one day donning the Bafana Bafana jersey and says he knows it will take hard work to get there.
“I am where I am because I have always worked hard. I give more than is expected. But I am not thinking about it now because I might end up frustrating myself if I work for it and end up not getting the call-up,” he said.
As one of Baroka’s top performers, it is unlikely that Masuluke will go down to the National First Division if the team fail to avoid the chop.
“I can’t say much on that because my job is helping Baroka right now. We are in this together and I have to do my part. Whether there are teams who want me is something I will worry about when that time comes. They will have to want me, I cannot go and say I want to move or not,” he said.
Bakgaga are in trouble and Masuluke says for them now every game they play is like a cup final as they are fighting for survival. He admitted that maybe they were a bit over-confident coming into the Premiership and have found the going tough in their maiden season.
Baroka are currently propping up the Absa Premiership with 18 points from 22 games. “Panicking would be a fruitless exercise. We need to remain resolute and fight to the end. We will not give up until the final whistle in the final match,” he said.
Bakgaga scored a rare win – their third in 22 matches – on Saturday afternoon, beating title favourites SuperSport United 1-0 and the keeper says he hopes the win serves as a turning point in their campaign.
“It was good to finally win. We had been working hard and it was always coming. Maybe luck had deserted us previously and I hope we can keep the run going,” he said.
Masuluke will be in goal again tonight as they host Platinum Stars in a Nedbank Cup clash and he said they will be gunning for another win as they want to keep their momentum.
The match is set for Peter Mokaba Stadium at 7.30pm.