Supersport’s Onismor Bhasera’s secret to success
MIHLALI BALEKA
AT times, the great melancholy of losing both parents as a teenager spits you out to the wilderness but such was Onismor Bhasera’s desire to look after his siblings that failure was not an option.
Born in Mutare, a city in the Manicaland Province of Zimbabwe, the 34-year-old footballer is the second-born of six siblings. But such was his profound understanding that after losing his mother at the age of six and father at 11, there wouldn’t be much of his family.
Like a vigilant young man determined to better the situation at home, Bhasera set his eyes on the ball as early as high school, captaining Lord Marlvern High to three successive Coca-cola Nash titles between 2001 and 2003.
Such was his drive and quality leadership skills that joining the renowned Aces Youth Soccer Academy during high school, was the springboard he needed to land his first professional contract when he joined First Division side Harare United, a club that plied its trade a league below the Premier League.
“Because I was determined, I can’t say that I had a rough patch when I lost my parents from a young age. I wanted to work very hard and reach my targets and goals in life. It’s possible,” Bhasera told IOL Sport.
“The fact that I lost my parents at a young age also pushed me to be where I am today. If I didn’t do ABC, I knew that no one was going to look after me. I had to push very hard to provide for my relatives and extended family. So, all those things pushed me to be where I am now.”
Those uninformed may be bemused as to why the Supersport United left back regularly speaks of “where I am now” as if he’s done it all in South African football. And, in actual sense, that’s because he has, alright!
Bhasera’s career in South Africa started with defunct NFD side Tembisa Classic (who are now known as top-flight football team Maritzburg United). But such has been his prominence that his exploits for Maritzburg in the elite league took him to the most successful club in domestic football, Kaizer Chiefs.
With Amakhosi – where he spent three seasons – Bhasera claimed two titles, the Telkom Knockout and MTN8. Besides the success of silverware, it was learning from one of the club’s legendary defenders that, indeed, hard work pays off. “The most influential people in my career have been my brother, kids and wife. Cyril “Skhokho” Nzama (the former Amakhosi captain) has played a big role in my career. Benjani Mwaruwari (Zimbabwean legend) has also played a big role in my career,” Bhasera explained. It was not merely taking advice from the duo that took Bhasera to the dizzying heights of the English Championship, where he spent three seasons with Plymouth Argyle, after leaving Chiefs in 2010. Instead, putting in the work week in and week out, yielded the fruits. “They can always tell you ABC but it’s always about how you carry it out. Someone might tell you something but it gets this side and comes out the other side. When they tell you something, you need to think about that and go out there and work,” Bhasera said.
Even after returning to the PSL to join Bidvest Wits before resurfacing at Supersport where he’s a regular week in and week out – despite being on the wrong side of 30 – Bhasera is yet to rest on his laurels.
“My biggest highlight is being able to play, week in and week out. I’ve managed to be consistent – especially having learnt from certain people and players, like Cyril Nzama, who’s been there for me since I’ve been around,” Bhasera said.