It’s going to be hell!
Peter Raath: Before the arrival of Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba, Witbank Spurs had four different head coaches in Rahman Gumbo, Vusi Mkhatshwa, Sammy Troughton and club boss, Themba Mafu. How did this affect your mind set?
Khethukuthula Zwane:
Eish, it was tough, really hard to concentrate or focus on a system which we were trying to apply. Each and every coach came with his own style and philosophy, so it wasn’t easy to adapt. Every time I felt that the team was getting there, another coach would arrive, so you’d start afresh from the beginning. Troughton was only here for two games. I’ve played here on and off for a long time since the 2010/11 season, but this has never happened before. It’s one of the worst situations. That’s why you’re seeing us at the bottom end of the log. Football is not easy, my friend. When you change coaches so much, it’s going to be hell!
PR: What did Mashaba say on his very first day of training?
KZ: Unfortunately, I was resting at home with an injury, so I’m not sure what was said. However, when I returned, Mashaba was adamant that we have to move away from the danger zone. He keeps on saying, “Let’s believe, let’s believe,” and wants us to take training as seriously as if it were an official match. In fact, Mashaba also told us, “Spurs is going to play the best football in the NFD.” I can tell you that Shakes is not just a good coach but also a good motivator. He’s with us every day, understands the players and encourages us to work hard. That’s his way! Everyone knows and respects what the former Bafana Bafana coach has achieved in the national team. He’s working freely, the way he wants to, with no interferences. Nobody is telling him what to do. Every decision is made by him and his technical staff. Our chairman, Mr Mafu, isn’t sitting on the bench anymore. He’s a spectator in the stands.
PR: It must have been gratifying, especially considering your age, to bounce back from that injury and be voted Man of the Match when Siyavutha bundled Maritzburg United out of the Nedbank Cup.
KZ: Yho, yho, it was a great feeling! This season I’ve played most of my games injured but kept going because I couldn’t stay outside and it wasn’t affecting me that much. However, you know what it’s like to continue under those conditions. Therefore, instead of being on the injured list for a long time, the doctor advised me to take a twoweek rest. Eish, time is running, but age is just a number in football. My legs are fresh. It depends on how you behave and live. Why not carry on if you’re still going strong? I’m a clean athlete, don’t smoke or drink alcohol and believe that I can play for at least another three years. My agent, Siya Mareke, of YoBoy Management, thinks that I have a similar mental approach to the famous Ryan Giggs. He told me that there’s interest for my services in the PSL, but let’s see what happens when the season ends. I’m almost the same age as the 34-year-old Mubayiwa twins, Peter and Patrick (laughing). We’re all still playing a big role week in and week out. Although my main position is on the left wing, I’m used more on the inside, not as a normal winger. It just depends on what the coach wants because not all games are the same.
PR: You’re also Spurs’ top scorer with seven league and cup goals, which includes first- round winners against Real Kings and Ajax Cape Town; however, the team has dropped 23 crucial points at home.
KZ: That’s correct, Peter. During Mashaba’s first loss to Cape Umoya United, which was a six-pointer, we gave that game away like many others. They were not better than us. Both clubs needed the points, but unfortunately, we didn’t get any. Usually, when Cape Town sides come this side, they struggle with the altitude or heat. We had to rect- ify those mistakes k made d and d were coming right slowly, slowly, slowly after beating both Maccabi FC and Kings. But eish… losing 3-1 to my old club, AmaTuks, in Pretoria was one of those days, while I didn’t feel good after scoring in our 1-1 home draw with Uthongathi FC. That’s because the team didn’t win. It broke my heart when Richard’s Bay FC scored a very late equaliser after I’d opened the scoring with a free kick. We did move out of the relegation zone, but our next game is away to Stellenbosch FC. I was telling the guys that during our last campaign, when I captained Spurs, it was a totally different scenario. After 17 games, we sat in fifth spot with 24 points, having only lost three at that point. Our downfall back then was too many draws. Currently, the team has hardly drawn but lost 11 – one of the worst records in the NFD. That’s the difference between the two seasons. We’re trying to bring back the thing that’s been lacking.
PR: Thanks, Khethukuthula. KZ: Anytime, Peter. ❐