Wayde Jooste

The full-back is settling in well at Orlando Pirates after even he admitted he was surprised when the club signed him.

Wayde Jooste’s game time at Highlands Park last season was so limited that he didn’t put in a single 90-minute shift, yet Orlando Pirates found reason to snap him up. The workaholic wingback hasn’t disappointed, fitting in well with The Buccaneers, and after winning the MTN8 he feels they must now be greedy and want it all. Jooste spoke to KICK OFF’s Lovemore Moyo about being the son of an ex-professional footballer, failing to break through at BidVest Wits and finally living his dream of playing for one of the ‘Big Three’ after making a move that even surprised him.

KICK OFF: You were born into a sporting family with your father having played in the Federation Professional League and the NSL First Division in 1991 … Wayde Jooste:

My father [also Wayde Jooste] played as a striker for [Port Elizabeth] Blackpool. My grandfather played rugby, while my uncles and aunt also played sport, so I suppose this was a gene that I inherited. My father doesn’t like talking about his football career because he made some mistakes, which is why he is so strict with my off-field lifestyle. Even today he still tries to guide and give me advice. From when I was still in high school, he used to tell me that nice times will always be there but opportunities to make it professional in sport come once in a lifetime. I remind myself constantly every single day how fortunate I am to be doing this job for a living and to still have both my mother and father in my life to guide me. Back in my school days I always used to think that my parents were irritating by keeping me indoors when all my school mates were going out. My father used to tell me that since I want different things to the average child, I had to be groomed from a young age to make sacrifices. My parents have always had my best interests at heart.

How did you break into the professional ranks and was it always given that you would also be a footballer?

I played in the local area and at school as a kid, and then had trials for Bay United’s Vodacom team [in 2008/09]. At that time I was 17 so I went with my father for the trials, which were attended by hundreds of hopefuls. Only after arrival I found out that these were trials for the senior team and not their Vodacom team, so only those 19 and older will be allowed. My father then insisted that I trial all the same since nobody knows my age. After waiting an hour and a half to play, I told my father I just want to go back home but he still insisted that I wait to play, even if it will be for 15 minutes because we had travelled from far. After a few minutes on the field, Khabo Zondo called me aside to ask how old I am. I thought, I’ve been caught, it’s over for me’. So, after I told him how old I was, he said they like me, and I was drafted into their Under-19 team to play at the Bayhill Cup where I had a great tournament. After the first game there was already so many clubs after me. Eric Tinkler of [BidVest] Wits wanted me, Ajax Cape Town, Moroka Swallows, Santos. But I was leaning towards Wits because my parents wanted me to study as well. I then went to Wits just after I completed Matric and was there for two years in their development and trained with the first team, but it didn’t work out and I went back home to play for Bay Stars in the ABC Motsepe League.

“HE TOLD ME THAT IF HE WORKS WITH ME FOR SIX MONTHS THEN I WILL BE ABLE TO GO AND PLAY IN THE FIRST TEAM.”

What happened after that?

While at Bay Stars one of the players put me in touch with his contact in Bloemfontein. I was meant to go to Roses United but when I got to Bloemfontein, they were away so I trained with Celtic’s development team under coach Molefi Ntseki. I trained there for two days and the coach told me he has seen enough. He told me that if he works with me for six months then I will be able to go and play in the first team and it happened that way.

From making your PSL debut in the 2013/14 season at Celtic you have now been to Golden Arrows and Highlands Park. Your move to Pirates was perhaps a surprise as your game time at the Lions of the North was restricted to just 17 appearances all season …

A lot of people were surprised. I was also surprised. At Highlands I think I didn’t fit into the system that was played. I just

never adjusted and luckily there were people watching me before I was at Highlands and knew what I was capable of doing so they were eager to give me a chance, which I was obviously going to take with both hands. I keep telling my family and friends that last season I didn’t play a single 90 minutes but look how many full games I have played this season and have even won a trophy. It is only upwards from here. So far it has been a good start but now is not the time to be complacent because I need to keep working harder to keep my place in the team.

Pirates have been using you as a right wingback, a position that you ironically first played at Celtic in a game against Pirates in August 2015 …

Maybe that is when Pirates saw me [laughing]. Pirates knew about my versatility based on how many different positions I played whenever I went up against them while at my previous clubs. I can play anywhere so right-back is nothing that I am unfamiliar with. The first time I played at right-back I was surprised, but I enjoyed myself because I have the capacity to go up and down, and also be able to get crosses into the box.

Why and how did Pirates sign you?

[Laughing] I think they saw the ability that I have to play that position [right-back] and strengthen the team. I’m glad to be at a team as big as Pirates. The way the move happened … after Highlands Park was sold, I was now with TS Galaxy when I received a call while I was in camp. I won’t mention the name of who called me [from Pirates], but that person asked about my contract situation and told me that Pirates would love to sign me. I then had a chat with the chairman at TS Galaxy [ Tim Sukazi] and asked that we mutually terminate my contract so that I can look for work elsewhere. When an opportunity like this comes you must jump at it because Pirates is a big club on the continent.

Have you always been as athletic as you are, seeing that the hallmarks of your game are in pace and commitment?

Back in my school days I always used to do long distance running with my father and he used to tell me that if I want to be better than the person competing for my position then I have to be fitter than them. So, for me that is always my goal. Just recently I came across a video which spoke about how you have to keep telling yourself that the next person will not outwork you, so my mindset is always like that. Yes, you can be more talented than me but with work rate I will come out tops.

How critical are you of your game?

Honestly speaking I always try my best to assist as much as I can but then with the strikers that we have in the country, sometimes the ball just doesn’t want to go in. I also try my best to get into goalscoring

“MAYBE I AM MORE MATURE NOW AND KNOW OF ALL THE MISTAKES THAT I MADE IN THE PAST AT OTHER CLUBS.”

areas, plus I work a lot on my crosses at training. Hopefully my numbers will increase with time, but it is something that I am not proud of. I believe that any coach can see that in the way that I train and play because I always give it my all. They can see that this person still has a lot to give even though I am turning 30 this year.

What has helped you get into the groove as quick as you have at Pirates, seeing how fast you have settled compared to all your previous clubs?

This is partly about mindset but then that is how the world works sometimes when

you work for your luck in this game. Maybe I am more mature now and know of all the mistakes that I made in the past at other clubs. I now know what to do. I knew that with going to Pirates there would a lot of pressure and the main thing was not to let that pressure get to me. I had to believe in myself and know what I am capable of. The plus is that the coaches at Pirates also helped by talking to me a lot before the first game because it wasn’t a thing of me just walking into the team. It was tough getting into the team, just like it has been tough holding onto the jersey. I must be consistent with my performances to stay in possession.

The club’s league form has been of concern with too many draws …

We have just been unlucky. Swallows equalised towards the end against us and then we hit the post a few times against Cape Town City. I know a lot of people have been saying that this Pirates team is strong and can win the league. We do have strong players, but I honestly feel we still haven’t played our best football up until now and that is the scariest thing. Our best football is still coming and once we hit that stride, I don’t think any team will be able to stop us.

When will that happen?

Hopefully, it will happen soon because in football things take time, but then the plus is that we now have the monkey off our backs after winning the MTN8 following a spell of no trophy in six years. It is not like we are far off the top, so we just need to win a few games.

With the Telkom Knockout not being played this season, Pirates is the only club that can still win the treble this season. You have tasted the sugar…

[Laughing] Winning my first trophy was a huge achievement and going forward we really want to win all trophies because before the season started our coach [Josef Zinnbauer] had one-on-one meetings with all of us. We all spoke about the desire to win trophies and our first target was the MTN8, which we now have so the next target is the next trophy. Remember, we are also in the CAF Confederations Cup so that is another trophy that we are going for. You must be greedy and go for all trophies. I know it is tough, but it’s not impossible. We never go out to the field as Pirates players wanting to draw or lose a game. We want to win every game. but that is not always possible.

Does your move to Pirates measure up with your ambitions?

It’s always been a dream of mine to play for one of the biggest clubs in the country. My father supported Pirates, so I also did the same as a kid because I just did whatever my father did. That was a good decision because looking at the history and ambition of the club, I don’t understand more people in the country don’t support Pirates. Being at Pirates means the recognition and attention is bigger than ever now. With the small clubs you always had to wait for the games against Pirates, Sundowns and Chiefs to show what you are all about because those games are always on television, meaning everyone is watching. But now that I’m at Pirates, I have realised just how every game is a big match because you are playing against one of those smaller teams who have that mindset of wanting to show you what they are all about.

Every game here at Pirates has pressure.

Even though you didn’t play in the recent Soweto Derby, how does it feel being a winner in all of your first three Soweto Derbies?

It obviously felt nice but then it would have been sweeter if we had the fans in the stadium. This is one fixture that means the world to our fans and it would have great to have them at the stadium so that they enjoy the bragging rights. I did get to have a feel of what this fixture because I could see the effort that club puts in ahead of the game and just the occasion because when we arrived at the stadium it was different with all those cars waiting for us. I grew up wanting to play in this fixture and it is wonderful that I have now played in. I remember being at the stadium to watch the one derby that was played in Port Eliza and I have the picture.

“ONCE WE HIT THAT STRIDE, I DON’T THINK ANY TEAM WILL BE ABLE TO STOP US.”