ROYAL EAGLES’ ANDILE FIKIZOLO (PART 2)
“That caught everyone by surprise.” “I told him that my mind is made up – no more ‘old crocks’.”
Carrots, we enjoyed your first instalment of ‘In Touch With’ last week. Let’s roll the carpet for you to make our readers laugh.
Ha, ha, ha, sure, my brother, not a problem at all. During my time at Golden Arrows, there was a stage where we had about 40 plus players at training, which included the juniors. We were coached by coach Clinton Larsen and the team wasn’t doing well at all. We were really struggling to get points and I was staying with Mam’ Mato (Madlala), at the time. Here we were, jogging, warming up before training and I just stopped, looked around and called out the coach’s name. That caught everyone by surprise because we were all focussed and, all of a sudden, everyone stopped, looking at me and waiting to hear what I was all about. One of the players couldn’t hold his curiosity anymore and asked, “What’s going on?” I told him I need to speak to the coach.
Ha, ha, ha, interesting. What happened next
Coach Clinton came close to me, as he was also equally curious to find out what was going on. He stood there, showing that I had his attention and that he was ready to listen to me. I said, “No, man, Coach, we’re not winning here. We’ve played three games without a single win, but what hurts me the most is the fact that my aunt pays salaries of so many players, yet they can’t get her even a single win! No, this is not fair on my aunt! Everyone gets their salaries on time here, but what does my aunt get in return? Nothing! So many players can’t get her a win, just one win? No, guys, we can’t ’t carry on likelik this.thi SomeS people l must leave. I will tell my aunt to terminate some of these players’ contracts because they’re not doing anything for her team.” I then kept quiet and started walking off so that training could restart, ha, ha, ha. Everyone went silent for a few seconds before bursting out in a huge laughter. It was only after the guys started laughing about it that I found it funny, but when I said it, I was really hurting although I didn’t think much about it, ha, ha, ha.
Ha, ha, ha, that must have been very funny and awkward, at the same time.
It really was, but you will be surprised to know that I did the same thing again just a few weeks ago, ha, ha, ha. Eish, me and my mouth. We were preparing for our Nedbank Cup qualifiers that we lost 1-0 in extra time against Richards Bay FC. During the week, leading up to the game, at training, we knew that the U23 players were not going to take part in the game because they’re guaranteed five spots in the starting line-up in league games. Yet the same U23 players were always in front whether we were warming up, running or even playing – they were just unstoppable. I asked them,
“GGuys, I ddon’t’t liklike ththatt theth people l who h are busy leading our running and everything will not play in the game on the weekend. It doesn’t matter how serious you, the U23s, can be, because you’re not going to play on the weekend. We don’t need you for the Nedbank Cup and you know that you have your favourite rule in the league. So, please, don’t waste our time here because we need experienced players for the weekend.” They all laughed at me, but you won’t believe what happened after the game...
What happened
Ha, ha, ha, eish, man. We obviously lost the game 1-0 and, believe it or not, I was the first one to lament the U23 players’ absence, ha, ha, ha. I told the guys, “You see, lamakhehla la (these old crocks’), cost us the game. If only we took our U23 players with, we would have won the game, especially in extra time. You experienced guys, you let us down big time; in fact, you’ve cost us a place in the Nedbank Cup Last 32.” Ha, ha, ha, amakhehla akathandanga (the experienced guys weren’t impressed at all), but I told them we are going with our U23 next season and the young stars are already looking forward to the games. Ha, ha, ha. Even the coach asked me, “Didn’t you say you don’t want the U23 players for the game and now you’re changing your tune?” I told him that my mind is made up – no more old crocks’ in our team for the Nedbank Cup next season, ha, ha, ha. Let me also tell you about our junior chairman (Andile Mpisane) who trains with us and I’m always on his case about wearing Gucci trainers instead of the normal soccer boots. I ask the guys, “How can we expect to win when we train with someone training with us in Gucci trainers?” Ha, ha, ha. Ha, ha, ha! Carrots, it has been real, man. Thanks so much for the laugh, we really appreciate it. Speedy recovery on your injury, we want to see you back in action. We are sure the team misses you, ha, ha, ha. Ha, ha, ha, thanks, bro.