They are hurting us
Richard Bay FC right back Katlego Maphathe opens up to Soccer Laduma’s Peter Raath about the setbacks experienced during what’s been a long career. The 28-year-old vice-captain also chats about integrity, the willingness to keep going as a pro and the clu
Peter Raath: Despite being Richards Bay FC’s longest-serving player, your career has been blighted by two second-tier relegations followed by a league championship that ultimately turned sour. Please tell us about some of those disappointments.
Katlego Maphathe: Eish, in 2012/13, when I arrived at Roses United, my first professional club, it was a dream come true jumping from an amateur level. But although I began enjoying myself as a 19-yearold, things weren’t easy. I was still learning, having never previously played for any Vodacom (now ABC Motsepe) League club. I’ll never forget my first goal against FC Cape Town. Back then, I was playing as a number 10. However, the next season, we went down using over 50 players, which was far too much. Our coach, Harold “Jazzy Queen” Legodi, had brought in lots of his new guys and we didn’t win much in the second round. Afterwards, I asked myself, “Where will I go?” Before that, at the age of about 15, I was a member of Bloemfontein Celtic’s development set-up. But this only lasted five months because I struggled with transport. The problem was it was too far to travel from my home in Botshabelo to Bloemfontein. I was therefore forced to stop attending training, which made me sad. From Roses, I joined Free State Stars and played for their MDC (MultiChoice, now DStv Diski Challenge) team, again for just a few months, before going on loan to African Warriors. But I never returned to Stars. Then, following Warriors’ relegation, I signed for Thanda Royal Zulu, who won the NFD title by 12 points in 2016/17.
PR: However, instead of proudly plying your trade in the much sought-after topflight, you suffered the shock of having to remain in the second tier after Amabhubesi sold their Premiership status to AmaZulu FC. How devastating was that news?
KM: It felt so painful, Peter. My life was turned upside down. Of course, I was happy to reach the PSL (topflight), where players would have got more money. We all thought that things were going to change for the better, but it didn’t happen. Sometimes in football people even do a pre-season, only to discover their club has been sold (laughing). I was also made to feel very, very sad when Celtic sold their PSL status to Royal AM. I grew up loving that club so much. It was my home team. We players from Bloemfontein and the Free State all had this dream to one day represent their first team, but that’s now gone. It’s tough. Lots of guys lost that chance. It’s the very same Max Tshabalala who sold both Roses and Celtic. These people who sell clubs are hurting us because at the end of the day, they benefit more than us. Over the years, I’ve had too many coaches. Guys such as John Tlale, Benjamin Reed, Moreno Ramoreboli, Thami Ngubane and the late Roger Sikhakhane all played a role in improving my game. But Simo Dladla and Brandon Truter taught me the most.
PR: Last season, when Dladla’s Natal Rich Boyz caused a major shock by knocking Kaizer Chiefs out of the Nedbank Cup, you won R5 000 after being named Man of the Match, which must have been very satisfying.
KM: I was so happy with the prize money and bought materials for my mom’s house that’s still being built in Botshabelo. That happened to be my best performance ever. Against Chiefs, I was all over the field and provided the cross for the winning goal. I’m someone with all-round skills, a player who’s good at everything … marking, dribbling and running. Simo showed me how to attack and defend, using the right timing. At 28, I still have much strength and energy. You won’t see me drinking or smoking. I’ve been vice-captain since last season and give some of the youngsters an account of my long journey in football, while others already know. It’s been almost 10 years and I’m enjoying playing regularly. Our current coaches, Pitso Dladla and Ron Gabriel, tell me to encourage the younger guys not to lose hope after a bad result, such as our 4-0 defeat to Polokwane City.
PR: That was the fourth occasion in a row where the team had failed to score, before suddenly finding form by thrashing Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC by exactly the same score line. What was the inspiration behind that goal rout?
KM: During training, we focused on finishing. Those sessions help us a lot because there’d been too many missed goal opportunities. Against TTM, the guys worked as a team. Eish coach Pitso was so, so happy (laughing). We must continue winning.
PR: That didn’t happen last weekend, as you drew 0-0 against with Cape Town All Stars, which means you only have nine points out of a possible 24.
KM: What I can say is that it was a tight game of two halves, where we dominated the first. Both teams missed chances, but at least we managed a fourth clean sheet, which is good.
PR: Thanks for your time, Katlego. KM: Peter, I’m very happy to finally be appearing in Soccer Laduma.