As long as I leave South Africa

South Africa has a rich history of producing bright midfield talent over the years and young Teboho Mok oena is one such. The 24-year-old, hailing from the sleepy dorpie of Bethlehem in the Free State, has captivated all with his bright performances for SuperSport United and has been touted as one of the next ‘big things’. With the 2021 Tok yo Olympics just a few months away, much is expected from the midfielder, who sees the tournament as the perfect platform to put himself in the window of the biggest European teams. In this interview with Soccer Laduma’s Delmain Faver, Mok oena sheds some light on his struggle with injuries this season, moving abroad as well as his flourishing partnership with Sipho Mbule.

Delmain Faver: Tebza, first things first, congratulations on being named as part of the preliminary 2021 Olympics squad for the national U23 team.

Teboho Mokoena: Ja, it’s really an honour, man, to be part of the national team and obviously representing the country. Its always one of my achievements, you know, representing the country and I actually want to see myself at the Olympics.

DF: So much has been said about how crucial these Olympic Games could be for you if you are to land a move to Europe next season…

TM: No, firstly, I think we must do well as a team and, obviously, individually, we must also market ourselves so (that) overseas teams can see us. So, it’s an important tournament for us and for the country.

DF: This group has been touted as one of the best South Africa has had in a long time and there are hopes you guys will withstand the pressure and go one further than the 2016 group.

TM: No, we don’t have pressure. We just want to achieve more, so obviously we wanna have a good tournament and achieve our targets.

DF: Now to SuperSport United. How much of a setback was your recent injury, considering the bright start you had to the 2020/21 season?

TM: Ja, man, eish the injury… You know that these injuries are beyond your control and obviously it was a setback for me. We were on form and we had just won five games in a row. I was scoring and I was assisting and, when I came back, I struggled to get an assist or a goal, you know. It’s been tough, but I am working hard on that. I want to change that and I want to start scoring and assisting and I also want to be winning games, man.

DF: Speaking of scoring goals and providing assists, you started the campaign like a house on fire, grabbing an assist and three goals in the first four matches of the season. Is that an area of your game you’ve been giving extra attention?

TM: Ja, indeed, especially this season. I’ve been paying more attention on goals and assists because I feel like if I can do more on that, then my profile will be good and, as a midfielder, I feel like I will be a more complete midfielder. I need to create and score goals for the team.

DF: This season, we have seen you step up a lot in terms of your game, more especially now that you have had to fill the gap left by Dean Furman…

TM: There was no pressure for me to take up that role because I’ve been playing that role for a long time. In the national team, I was playing number six, eight and 10, so it’s going to be one of my positions and I have got it in my locker. So, there’s no pressure because Dean left and now I must fill up the space he left – no, it was just a case of me making a name for myself like he did, so it was for me to learn a new trick and improve myself.

DF: In an interview in edition 1212 of Soccer Laduma, Bradley Grobler said that if in the next two to three years you and Sipho Mbule don’t find yourselves in Europe, you would have done an injustice to your careers. What’s your reaction to that show of faith?

TM: Ja, man, I think Bradley believes in us and his belief in us is out of this world because I’m always assisting him

and Sipho is always assisting him. Obviously, when one is playing or when we get together, we make the team click, you know. So, I think he sees the potential that we have and also the contribution that we bring to the team, so I’m very, very glad to hear that he believes in us. For me personally, I also see myself being there and I am working towards that.

DF: Is there a country or a league in Europe that you would prefer to play in if you did make a move?

TM: Anywhere, as long as I leave South Africa…

DF: Let’s talk about the partnership you’ve struck up with Mbule, where you seem to have formed a tight bond both on and off the field.

TM: I’ve known Sipho from 2013, so we’ve been friends since then until now. We know each other and we have been friends for eight years and we’ve been playing together for eight years, so we know each other’s strengths, each other’s weaknesses. So, I already know what he is going to do when he gets the ball, how he is going to move and I think that is what he also knows about me. That is how close we are me and him.

DF: The club’s CEO, Stan Matthews, also recently told this publication that he identifies you as the club’s most technically gifted player since Kamohelo Mokotjo. That’s high praise coming!

TM: Ja, I look up to Kamo, he is one of my favourite players. I like how he plays, how calm he is and the calmness that he has on the ball and off the ball. Ja, man, he is very smart too.

DF: Despite being one of the younger players in the Matsatsantsa squad, you have been one of the most consistent players, especially in the big games. What do you attribute that to?

TM: I think we have to deliver every game that we play, because as footballers, you are only as good as your last game.

DF: In terms of the team, we have seen it as common practice in recent seasons where you start off really well, before fading away in

the second half of the season, which ultimately rules you out of the title race…

TM: I think something that has been affecting us is injuries. Like, ja, players get injured and we are a small group of players, you know. I think that has been affecting our performance as well, but as a team, I think we are going to be in the top four at the end of the season, my man.

DF: Good luck with finishing in the top four and we hope to see you plying your trade in Europe sooner rather than later.

TM: Thanks, my man.