Meet the Arrows twins

“My career has been stagnant because of him.” “We always call him “K boy” and touch his bum.”

When it comes to siblings at Golden Arrows, there is no rivalry. Think back to Richard and Joseph Henyekane, as well as Papi and Ntlantla Zothwane. Once upon a time, there was Rocky and Mato Madlala steering the ship. No surprises to see that when the young Parusnath twins, Brandon and Brendon – but Seth and Kaleb to those wanting to avoid any confusion – got promoted to the Abafana Bes’thende senior team in the 2013/14 season, they fitted like a hand in glove. It’s been a challenging road for both since then. Soccer Laduma’s Beaver Nazo sat down with them for a chat about that journey.

Beaver Nazo: Gents, welcome to the pages of Soccer Laduma. You guys haven’t set the scene alight since you were promoted to the Golden Arrows first team in the 2013/14 season…

Seth Parusnath: I wouldn’t say it was that bad for me, as I have been in the team more. We were not experienced enough when we got promoted and sometimes the excitement can somewhat disrupt you when you’re young. It’s a lot of process being a professional player and sometimes you may not fully focus but rather think about the fact that you are playing in the Absa Premiership. But we were lucky to have coaches like coach Clinton Larsen and coach Mandla Ncikazi who guided and advised us every day. Winning the MDC twice was good though. Maybe the process took longer, because we were promoted by coach Manqoba Mngqithi when he was still, but we are in the senior team now.

Kaleb Parusnath: When we got promoted to the first team in 2013/14, we were still young and learning the ins and outs of the first team. I tore my knee ligament and I was out for two years, so I only came back to full training recently. The thing is, I came back prematurely, and I tore the ligament again. That is why I haven’t been in the team yet. The injury delayed me a bit. I went to the surgeon and he didn’t know what he was doing, and he messed up my progress. Had I gone to the right surgeon from the start, I wouldn’t have had to re-do the operation. I mean, he doesn’t specialise in these sorts of injuries, which is why he referred me to a specialist in Umhlanga when it reoccurred after the operation that he did on me. Had he referred me to the specialist the first time, I would have been up and running a long time ago. My career has been stagnant because of him. Now I have been properly helped by the guy in Umhlanga, who also did Papi Zothwane’s surgery. I was so frustrated and angry, but I am back and feeling better now.

BN: Why did the club send you to a surgeon that did not specialise on that sort of injury when there was someone they knew who was a specialist in that regard?

KP: No, I was sent to him for scans so that he could tell me the extent of the injury and help if he could. All he was supposed to do was tell me exactly the extent of the injury and then I was going to be taken to the specialist in Umhlanga. He didn’t do that and took a chance.

BN: The two of you were among the standout players in the Arrows MultiChoice Diski Challenge team when they won the inaugural MDC title, but haven’t really reproduced the form that made you two get promoted to the first team.

SP: Well, we are in the first team and we are making the team now. Kaleb has just come back to the team and is waiting for his chance. I have been given starts by our coach, so things are starting to look good for us. KP: I was included in the team when coach Larsen was still here and we were going to play Mpumalanga Black Aces. Everything was looking up. It was after that where I got injured and stayed out for two years. Seth is getting game-time now.

BN: What’s it like playing in the same team as twin brothers?

SP: It’s not something new to us. We played together from an early age, but it is slightly different now because it is a bigger stage. We are always there for each other and we criticise each other in a constructive way when we have to.

KP: It’s encouraging to see Seth progressing and to think that I would probably be as far as he has gone as well. What’s so good about playing for the same team is that we are each other’s biggest critics. If I didn’t do well, Seth is the first person to let me know. I do the same to him.

BN: Do you think the fact that the club’s MDC mainly trains with the senior team helps the youngsters to hit the ground running when they do get promoted?

SP: Yeah, it really works and it does make the young players feel comfortable. That is why the team has won the MDC twice. They are used to competing with Absa Premiership players at training. Every young player wants to be at his best when coming up against their heroes and that’s what happens with us at training. The younger players always want to challenge themselves every day.

KP: That is working very well for the club. If you look at all the teams in the league, it is Golden Arrows who always have a high number of MDC players in their team every season. BN: Kaleb, Seth has already scored

his first goal for the senior team against Bidvest Wits. Does that put you under pressure to score also?

KP: Not really. Look, even in the MDC he scored goals before I played regularly, but that doesn’t put me under any pressure. I am happy for him and I am proud of his achievement and, when my time comes, I won’t expect to be like him. I will be doing what I know best on my own, like he is doing.

SP: You know, the funny thing about that goal is that I told my teammates before the game that I was going to score. It was a great moment for me. I was playing as a number 10 and coach Larsen encouraged me to always get into the box. It is a moment that will stay with me forever. I mean, I scored my first goal against one of the best teams in the league!

BN: You’ve worked with different coaches. Who would you say has been the best?

SP: Coach Steve Komphela is one of the best in this league. He is a professional in what he does day in and day out, and he knows a lot about football and is experienced, having coached a big team like Kaizer Chiefs. He has helped me a lot with the finer details. Just being around him every day is something you look forward to as a player. He has trusted me enough to give me starting berth in the team and I am thankful for that.

KP: Steve Komphela is a coach that pays attention to detail. If I would liken him to an overseas coach, it would be Pep Guardiola of Manchester City because he understands the players well. Compared to other coaches, he is different. He is a coach that is always ready to listen and help his players. Coach Larsen was equally wonderful, though, and was a very good mentor to work under. Sometimes players get excited to see a new coach, but with coach Larsen, we had a wonderful three years. He was a wonderful, hard-working coach.

BN: Growing up, who was always selected to play ahead of the other?

SP: We do not play exactly the same position because he plays more advanced in midfield, while I play as a holding midfielder. We always have that understanding on the field of play. It’s only here in the senior team that things changed, and maybe they will get back to normal and we will be in the first team together.

KP: When we were in Grade 11, I was selected to play in the KZN squad that was touring Gauteng and he didn’t, but it was not always like that. There were times when our coach at school would select him and I would stay behind, so it was never a case of who was better. I wouldn’t play for two or three weeks and he would play, and vice versa. But, in most cases, we were always consistent in playing together.

BN: The Mugeyi brothers, William and Wilfred, played for Bush Bucks back in the mid-90s to 2000s. Do you guys know anything about them?

SP: They are the only talked-about twins in South African football. Apparently, they came and took the PSL by storm. I would also like me and my brother to be the most talked-about twins even when we’ve retired from football, just like William and Wilfred Mugeyi.

KP: Yeah, I’ve heard about them and I would really like to be what they were. Me and my brother will work harder to achieve more. Football is a short-term career and if you have a chance to be what you can be in it, then go for it. BN: Twins are often known to be naughty at times. What’s the craziest thing you two have ever done? S SP: Ha, ha, ha, growing up, we e used to play games with our m mother. She would call Kaleb and I would be like, “Hey, let m me go to her, you’re probably tir red.” So she would think that she e was addressing Kaleb, while in fafact talking to me. When she called Kaleb, he would say, “Seth, go.” Ha, ha, ha. KP: We are very shy when it comes to the limelight and don’t like to draw attention to ourselves. We once teased Nkosingiphile Gumede and said he is Beyoncé because he likes to sing a lot, and everybody ended up calling him that. We always call him “K boy” and touch his bum every time when he sings in the dressing room, just to make him uncomfortable, ha, ha, ha. BN: That’s funny. Arrows is the only professional team that you two have played for. Do you have an ambition to move elsewhere one day? SP: Right now, I am still contracted to the club that has given so much to me and I am fully committed, but my dream is to go and play overseas one day. I want to follow in the footsteps of players like Kagisho Dikgacoi and still come back to the club and give back all the knowledge to the young players. KP: I think it is every player’s dream to play overseas and I am no different. But I am fully focused on Arrows and getting back into the team right now.

BN: You will therefore be hoping to help the club move up the league table in the remaining games of the season…

SP: Yes, where we are sitting doesn’t look good now. We will get to the Top Eight though. If you look at the points difference, you will see that there are not many points separating the teams. If we win two games in a row, we will get to the Top Eight. That’s how tough this season is.

KP: We are aiming at least finishing in the top four. We are pushing to win as many of our remaining games as possible so that we can move up the log. It’s never going to be easy because at this time of the season, everyone is fighting, but we will give it our all.

BN: Seth and Kaleb, it was a pleasure talking to you. Hope you haven’t played tricks with us and answered questions on each other’s behalf. SP: Ha, ha. Thanks Beaver. KP: Thanks, man. I will come back stronger. ❐