Platinum Stars unearth miner gem
Dream come true for geologist Semenya, the rock-solid defender whose winner against Chiefs catapulted Freese’s side to the KO final
SOUTH Africa’s League Cup was first played back in 1982 and known then as the Datsun Challenge. Arcadia were the first champions, defeating Highlands 1-0 in a replay. The tournament went on to have three more title sponsors – John Player Special Knockout (1984 to 1991), Coca-Cola Cup (1992 to 1996 & 2001 to 2005) and the Rothmans Cup (1997 to 2000) – before Telkom came on board in 2006. 2012 Bloemfontein Celtic 2011 Orlando Pirates 2010 Kaizer Chiefs 2009 Kaizer Chiefs 2008 Ajax Cape Town 2007 Kaizer Chiefs 2006 Silver Stars 2005 Jomo Cosmos 2004 Kaizer Chiefs 2003 Kaizer Chiefs 2002 Jomo Cosmos 2001 Kaizer Chiefs 2000 Ajax Cape Town 1999 Sundowns 1998 Kaizer Chiefs 1997 Chiefs 1996 Bush Bucks 1995 Wits University 1994 Qwa Qwa Stars 1993 Bush Bucks 1992 AmaZulu 1982 Arcadia 1991 Dynamos 1990 Sundowns 1989 Kaizer Chiefs 1988 Kaizer Chiefs 1987 Bush Bucks 1986 Kaizer Chiefs 1985 Wits University 1984 Kaizer Chiefs 1983 Kaizer Chiefs 1982 Arcadia
Kaizer S MINER working underground in Barberton back in 2008, Platinum Stars’ Telkom Knockout semi-final hero Thabiso Semenya could have easily given up on his dream of playing top-flight football.
He was 26 at the time and had only played his football in the third tier, what was then known as the Vodacom League, first for Mpumalanga Highlanders in Bush Buck Ridge and later Barberton City Stars.
Football, at that stage, was ... well, some sort of a part-time thing, the player having to work elsewhere to make ends meet.
Basically, he was unknown in football and things were not quite looking up in the sport for the geology graduate who had also worked as a local economic development officer at the municipality in Bush Buck Ridge between 2004 and 2006, a job he got through a connection of the owner of Highlanders FC.
“The idea of making a career out of football only really came about when I was studying Geology at the University of Limpopo. Mike Rapatsa (former Moroka Swallows player) told me I was good enough to play as a professional.
“So from then on, I wanted to play in the Premiership, even though I was not sure I was going to make it,” Semenya said.
But three years after leaving the mine to seriously pursue his dream of playing in the top-flight, Semenya found himself in North West playing for Platinum Stars. His dream had finally come true.
“I was on trial at Platinum Stars for two months and three weeks. I had to wait long before I got a contract and there was even a time when I got frustrated. I wanted to leave because they were taking way too long to make a decision. But coach Owen da Gama convinced me to stay and told me not to worry. He said that Stars would sign me.”
And it’s exactly what they did. “I understand why they took long to sign me. I was an unknown player and I had to prove myself. I was so happy when the club signed me,” said Semenya, who was born in Moletji, outside Polokwane.
Semenya is in his third season with Dikwena and today he’s the reason the club are in the Telkom Knockout final at Mbombela Stadium, his goal in the semi-final against Kaizer Chiefs last month proving to be the difference as the North West outfit qualified for their second knockout final of
Athe season.
Stars face Orlando Pirates, the club they beat in the MTN8 final on penalties in September.
“That goal (against Chiefs) was very special to me because it was my first goal (as a professional). It was even more special because it was the goal that got us into the final.
“It feels good that we are in our second final this season. I think it’s the first time it’s happened for this club,” an excited Semenya said while lying down on the grass in the heat of Phokeng after a training session on Tuesday morning.
Semenya, who connected with his right foot from a corner kick to score the winner in that clash against Stuart Baxter’s Amakhosi, had not even featured in any of Stars’ matches this season before that clash.
Competition in the squad has been tight for the last year and a half for the central defender, who has been playing at right-back recently in the absence of injured captain Vuyo Mere.
In his first season (2011/2012) at Stars, Semenya was a regular, playing at the heart of the defence with coach Da Gama at the helm.
But the 31-year-old dropped to the bench last season when Cavin Johnson took over after Da Gama was fired for, among other reasons, allegedly accepting money from players for them to play regularly.
Johnson preferred promising young defender Tshepo Gumede to partner the experienced Benson Mhlongo, whose leadership and guidance has helped Gumede become one of the best defenders in the country.
Currently, caretaker coach Allan Freese has put his trust in the central defensive partnership of Gumede and Mhlongo.
But an injury to Mere has given Semenya the chance to convince Freese he is good enough to play regularly.
He says he has never been bitter about not playing, though.
“Competing with the best defenders like Tshepo Gumede, Benson Mhlongo and Rhofiwa Tshikovhi is not easy, but we always support each other, whether we are playing or not.”
Semenya joined Stars in 2011 from National First Division side Carara Kicks, the club he joined in 2008 after leaving Barberton City Stars and his job at the mine – he juggled between the two jobs.
“Carara Kicks saw me playing in the Vodacom League play-offs in Klerksdorp in 2008. I was playing for Barberton City Stars in the (end of season promotion) play-offs.
“When I saw what Carara Kicks were offering me, that’s when it really sank in that I can carve out a career in football. I was happy with the figures.
“Look, I have always had to work very hard to get a salary at the end of the month, so I was happy when Carara gave me the offer. Before playing at Carara, I was at the mine. The first time I went underground, I was so scared. But I got used to it, and besides, as a Geology student, you study rocks, so it got easy for me to go underground and work. I am a hustler. A man always has to make a plan. I was playing for Barberton City Stars and working at the mine at the same time. That was between 2006 and 2008.”
He seems to have enjoyed juggling between the two jobs.
“It was easy. I finished work at around 4pm each day, then I went for training.
“On weekends I was not at the mine, so I was playing matches. The owner of City Stars helped me get a job at the mine.
“I also worked as a Local Economic Development Officer from 2004 to 2006 at the municipality in Bush Buck Ridge while playing for Highlanders. The owner was politically connected, so he helped me get the job,” Semenya revealed.
The days of juggling two jobs are long gone and now Semenya is preparing for one of the biggest challenges of his life.
He could play again at rightback tomorrow when Dikwena take on the wounded Buccaneers in the Telkom Knockout final at Mbombela Stadium. And he is hoping he’ll add another medal to what he hopes will eventually be a big collection.
“We finished second in the league last season, but that almost does not count.
“People don’t remember you when you are second. Chiefs won the league, but people don’t remember Stars finishing second. We want to win things.
“The coach (Freese) told us that we need to be humble after winning.
“If we had not listened to him, maybe we would have gone on to lose six games after winning the MTN8 final. So we are not complacent. We work hard. We have been trying our best.”
During the week Mere said he would not be able to make it back in time from injury for the final, leaving Semenya as Stars’ best option in the skipper’s position.
“Naturally I am a central defender, but I am playing at right-back now and it’s fine. If I get selected for the final, I will be delighted to play to win.”