Stitch justifies his boss’ faith in him
Karabo Tshepe January 27, 1989 29 Mohlakeng Black Leopards Stitch
It has not been an easy road, but Black Leopards midfielder Karabo Tshepe’s career seems to be on an upswing, all because of patience, determination and hard work. His professional career began at Lidoda Duvha in 2011 as a young. skilful midfielder who was deemed surplus to requirements on the development sides of Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Fortunately for him, his talent was appreciated by Leopards boss David Thidiela. His pace, vision and tricky skills made him a nightmare for defenders, something that encouraged Leopards to sign him. However, despite playing a lot and being a fan favourite at the club, things didn’t end up so well for the Mohlakeng-born star after rumours linking him with clubs like Amakhosi and Orlando Pirates saw him being sent packing due to a contractual dispute.
Thidiela and Tshepe remained close, but the Chiefs and Pirates rumours didn’t turn out to be true, leaving Tshepe without a club for almost a year in 2015.
“It was difficult for me, especially with the club thinking I was the one who wanted out. But it was not the case, it’s just that the rumours were ongoing and we ended up having issues with my contract – that is when the club decided to terminate it,” Tshepe told Phakaaathi.
“The good thing about it is that they might have terminated it, but the chairman was always good to me and I see him as a father figure.”
For months, Stich, as Tshepe is affectionately known in townships, kept himself fit by playing amateur football and winning the hearts of many spectators, who even went on a Facebook campaign to try and get Chiefs to sign him.
He then got a break with Magesi FC, who won promotion to the NFD in 2016, but the club ended up being relegated back to the ABC Motsepe League at the end of the season. It was back to playing amateur football for the midfielder, until
Tshepe is a staunch churchgoer and his father is a pastor.
While growing up, he played in the same team as Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Oupa Manyisa and former Orlando Pirates midfielder Roger Majafa for a team called Napoli FC.
He is passionate about giving back to the community and currently runs a Delucho Spectacular tournament for high schools around Randfontein, which plays every year. July 2017 when a call from Thidiela saw him go for a second spell with Leopards, who had just lost their star player, Siphelele Ntshangase, to Kaizer Chiefs.
The message was clear from the Leopards chairman to Tshepe. The objective was to help the team get back to the Absa Premierhip and in just one season, the midfielder has fulfiled his task after his well-taken goal against Jomo Cosmos in a relegation promotion/play-off match ensured the Venda-based side gained promotion back to the top flight after five years in the NFD.
“I was not really surprised when the chairman called me to come and rejoin the team. He believed in me and I could not think twice about it, I just decided on the spot that I will go,” he added.
“I remember that day (of the Cosmos game) vividly, it felt really great to score and help the team get back to the PSL. Everybody in the stadium was happy, the supporters were abuzz, it was a huge thing for the team and especially our fans because their support has been massive.
“We have been working very hard and I think that is why we managed to pull through in the play-offs. We actually wanted to win automatic promotion, but things didn’t go our way, but now we are just happy that we are in the PSL.”
Tshepe has vowed to continue working hard and says they know things are going to be a little bit different in the PSL, but they will certainly be ready to compete.
“The PSL is very competitive, the standard of the league has grown in the last couple of years, which makes it quite interesting. But we will be ready to compete and give our best in each and every game.”