One cannot cry over spilt milk

It is often said that experience is not bought over the counter, and this is one attribute that Mario Booysen possesses in abundance, for he has been there, done that and got the T-shirt. Starting out at hometown club Ajax Cape Town provided the spindly centre-back with the perfect springboard from which to take off, in case the bigger sides from Johannesburg came calling, as they often do when it comes to outstanding Cape talent. However, ups and downs have been part of the journey, something he has embraced with diligence and professionalism. And so it is that after the disappointment of seeing his stay with Kaizer Chiefs cut short, Booysen is on a mission to prove he still has what it takes, while helping AmaZulu FC, who showed faith in him when other teams looked the other way, as they try to survive the scare of relegation. The 31-year-old star and Soccer Laduma’s Beaver Nazo recently had a sit-down, wherein Booysen provides insight on recent developments in his career.

Beaver Nazo: Mario, how would you sum up the 2019/20 season so far?

Mario Booysen:

It has been a tough and good season for me personally, but it is always about the team. I am more concerned about the team’s results. I have to give 100 percent for the club just like any other player in the team for us to achieve what we want to achieve. Even though (positive) results have not been forthcoming, we are doing all we can to get the club to a respectable position. We are all working very hard for that.

BN: AmaZulu FC are languishing at the foot of the Absa Premiership standings with 10 games left. What are you guys doing in training to fix this?

MB:

I feel that there’s still a lot of games to change that. I think we can still escape there with the games that we are still going to play. There’s 30 points still to play for, so we don’t have to press panic buttons as yet. The league is very tight and the teams that are in and around us have been going through a streak of poor results as well. Another thing is that January has been a tough month for us. We had tough games against Mamelodi Sundowns, Cape Town City, Maritzburg United and Orlando Pirates and three of these games were away. Now, in February, we have games against teams that are also battling to get results. We just need two or three wins on the trot, and by the end of February, we will be talking a different language.

BN: As an experienced campaigner who has been around the block, what do you think needs to be done to change the situation?

MB:

We just have to apply the attitude that we have been applying in the past few games. We played good football, but just lacked a bit of luck. We can still change the situation. I have a good feeling that we will.

BN: There is no disputing the overreliance on striker Bongi Ntuli for goals. He’s scored 10 of the 11 goals that the club has netted so far. Could that be a contributing factor to your struggles?

MB:

Not really, man. Yes, he is on form and he is scoring the goals, but it’s not about one player, but the collective. We are going through a rough patch as a club and he happens to be sharp at the moment, which is good for the team. I am sure he will tell you the same thing, that it is a collective. We will turn the corner soon. The goals will come.

BN: After the recent loss to Maritzburg United in the KZN derby, there were ugly scenes where Usuthu officials charged at the match officials, something the club later issued an apology for. What really happened?

MB:

Well, I cannot comment on that because obviously everyone saw what happened. I was not involved in that… I went straight to the dressing room. I think it was just emotions, man. Everyone wants to win. I am not going to comment on the referee’s decisions because the club has already issued an apology.

BN: Let’s move on then. You joined AmaZulu after a stint with Kaizer Chiefs, whom you had signed for in a surprise move in 2018, following a difficult season with Ajax Cape Town, who were relegated at the end of the 2017/18 campaign. How did that move to the Soweto giants come about?

MB:

I got a call from my agent, asking if I would be keen to join Chiefs. I never hesitated because the opportunity presented itself to represent the biggest football club in the country.

tract with the club was terminated after having only featured 14 times in all competitions.

MB:

It was just a mutual agreement between my camp and the club that with my age and game-time being a bit scarce we decided it was best if I moved on. In addition, the coach had other plans with the players that he was playing at the time, you know. Therefore, there was no bad feelings or anything of that sort. You know, I have been in the game for some time and such things do happen.

BN: Okay. MB:

It’s just that every coach prefers certain types of players in every position to complement his philosophy and style of play. That is what happens everywhere in the world. It is not something I didn’t know – it is something that happens in football everywhere. I was not even angry about it. I appreciate the time I had at the biggest club in the country. On top of everything, I think the injuries that I sustained didn’t help my cause. I struggled with injuries and the guys who played in my position did well in my absence, which is why it was hard for me to get back into the team.

BN : Giovanni Solinas was at the coaching helm of Chiefs when you joined. Describe that time for us.

MB:

When I arrived, the team was not doing well and they were on a rebuilding phase. However, I think it was just unfortunate because the results did not go our way and then the coach was sacked. Nevertheless, life goes on and we have to focus on what’s ahead of us.

BN: You played in only five matches from the 14 that the Italian coach was there for at Amakhosi in the league. Why was that?

MB:

Injuries happened, man, and they made it difficult for me. When I signed, it didn’t take me long to get into the team, but unfortunately, injuries hampered my progress at Chiefs. I was just unfortunate that injuries hit me at the wrong time. I hadn’t had injuries prior to my time at Chiefs, but when I got there, injuries came thick and fast. It was just unfortunate.

BN: A footballer’s worst nightmare, as they say! MB:

Man, I was struggling with injuries and, as you know, at a big club like Chiefs, once you get injured, you are bound to lag behind because there’s a huge pool of good players (to choose from). Every player is itching for game-time. The guys that came in did well. The injuries were a big blow for me. Coach (Ernst) Middendorp had to use other players and it happened that they did well and formed part of his plans. That’s how it is in football and one cannot cry over spilt milk. That is why I had to make peace with that. I just hope and pray that I remain injury-free (for the rest of) this season.

BN: Upon your Chiefs exit in August last year, you only signed with AmaZulu in October. Why the delay in finding a new club, considering your experience?

MB:

The clubs were already sorted in my position and it provided me with an opportunity to stay with my family. It was not something I was stressing about because I knew that I would get another opportunity to play football again. There were teams interested, but it was just a matter of the timing not being right because a lot of them were not aware that I was in negotiations to part ways with Chiefs.

BN: Prior to the confirmation of your Chiefs exit, sources had revealed that you were already back in Cape Town for some time. When did you know about you release? MB:

Look, this all started when we were in off- season. I was home because it was the off-season break and that’s when the negotiations started. When the season started, we were already in the middle of the negotiations. My house is in Cape Town, so I was in Cape Town for that reason. There was no point me going back to Johannesburg when I knew that I was negotiating to leave the club. Besides, there were no squabbles or anything of that sort – it was just smooth and my agent took care of everything while I was spending time with my family, which was a good and enjoyable thing for me.

BN: Why was your exit at Chiefs only confirmed in August?

MB:

That’s something that you’ll have to speak to Chiefs about. I was still contracted to the club; it was not a definite thing. It happened eventually and I moved on, but there will always be speculations around big clubs like Chiefs. It happened eventually, no hard feelings and I am still in the game. I just need to focus on what is ahead.

BN: How would you sum up your time with Amakhosi?

MB:

I would sum it up as a huge learning curve for myself. I had injuries that made me look at the game in a serious light. When injuries hit you, you start knowing that football is a strange game. It was all a learning curve and I learnt that injuries could end your career. I also learnt that football is a daily life. I am grateful for everything that happened to me at Chiefs. It is a very good club, a big club in South Africa and to have played for them is a special thing for me. Life goes on though and I had to make peace with it because had I not done that, I wouldn’t be playing still.

BN: Mario, thanks for your time. MB: You’re welcome, Beaver. ❐