Patson Banda on the man whose jersey he took

Simon Mathebula does not make secret of the fact that after he sustained a finger injury, this brought forward his day of retirement, and so it was key that Orlando Pirates had a successor ready to step in. Enter Patson Banda, famously known as ‘Sparks’ and sometimes ‘Kamuzu’. We touched base with the man, who was a pundit on SABC Sport a couple of years ago, to find out what memories he has of the goalkeeper that opened the way for him to make a name for himself.

Lunga Adam: Hola, Bra Sparks. What comes to mind when the name Simon Mathebula is mentioned?

Patson Banda: Which one? There were two. There was Simon Mathebula the junior, there was Simon Mathebula the senior.

LA: The senior.

PB: Oh, now we can talk. Angithi uyabona (You see), some people may not be aware, but before Nhlanhla Shongwe, there was Simon Mathebula again. In fact, I didn’t play with him (the senior) much because when I came to (Orlando) Pirates, I actually took over. When I came in, he was the number one goalkeeper, but… I wouldn’t say he was ageing… I think because of the style of play when you compared me and him and the fact that I was younger, I took over from him. But he was a great keeper for Pirates and he played his role. I’m not sure if he told you in the interview about what I told him on the day

I arrived at the club. I said, ‘Now that I’m here, I’m going to take the jersey and your job will be to look after my bag.’ I said that jokingly, only to find that I was indeed going to take the jersey. He never came back thereafter.

LA: That’s amazing!

PB: I’m not sure if he told you that he arrived immediately after they expelled the likes of (the late Gerard) van der Haar and ‘Dancing Shoes’ (Bernard Hartze) at Pirates. He came in and became the goalkeeper. His deputy was Skhehla … I just forget Bra Skhehla’s surname… it may have been Mthembu or Hadebe. When I got there, there were four goalkeepers – him, Themba Mdluli, Pankie Radebe and Skhehla, and he was the number one choice.

LA: Well, then, it seems Pirates were blessed in the goalkeeping department back in the ’60s and ’70s. There have been

hits and misses since then…

PB: I would say, in fact, that Pirates were blessed with goalkeepers at the time Van Der Haar was playing. I don’t want to talk much about others, if they were bad or what, but based on the standard, angithi uyabona siyahluka ngokwe (as you know, we differ when it comes to the) standard. That is why when I came in as a youngster, I took over, like I said, because I was young and also maybe because of the style of play. Like Bra Si told you, he was ready to retire and he was just waiting for someone to come in and take the jersey from him.

LA: Nice one. Thanks for your time, legend.

PB: Dankie, mf’ethu (Thank you, brother). I would be glad if you can send me his number so I can call him and say hi. He and Conti Kekana are the two people I would still love to meet if they are still alive. ❐