It was unexpected

“I will never forget that game that Chiefs beat us 4-0 at Cape Town Stadium.”

“I would love to get that across to a lot of players locally.”

An overseas move has been completed at United City FC in the Philippines for Alan Robertson, having left Stellenbosch FC as one of the standout performers in what has been an impressive season for the Cape Winelands side so far. The 28-year-old couldn’t turn down the offer as he has always wanted to travel and to play in a different league abroad. In this interview with Soccer Laduma’s Masebe Qina, the Johannesburg-born player discusses the move, while he also talks about his time with Steve Barker’s side, where he came close to playing 100 games in all competitions and has left a legendary status. Furthermore, Robertson has an important message to fellow footballers in South Africa about the importance of education in planning for life after football.

Masebe Qina: Hi, Alan, and thanks for availing yourself to talk to Soccer Laduma readers. After almost a decade of playing in South Africa, you’ve left the country to play overseas.

Alan Robertson: Yeah, it’s obviously exciting and it’s something that I’ve been looking into for a while. For it to finally happen, it’s exciting but a little daunting as well.

MQ: Daunting in what way?

AR: I’ve done a lot of research into how they play football that side and it’s somewhere that I have always wanted for a while, and I think I just wanted to travel but also to play football at a high level. Like I say, I’ve done a lot of research and I have an understanding of what to expect.

MQ: So, how did your move to United City FC happen?

AR: The club’s assistant coach got hold of me and we had a few discussions, and I put him in touch with Kieran (Brown), who is my agent. So, it’s been a process – it’s been about six weeks of discussions and obviously their season only starts now. They were looking for a foreign centre-back, and yeah, that is basically how it happened.

MQ: From all of us in Mzansi, we wish you everything of the best. How much did you know about the club and the league in the Philippines before you signed for the club?

AR: Like I mentioned, I did lot of research, so I knew that the club was in a good stature in the Philippines and I think they won the league in the last four seasons. So, they are a top club in the Philippines and they are obviously playing in the Asian Champions League as well and I think that is where they’re wanting to strengthen and compete. So, I knew about it, but I didn’t know exactly what their standard is like and things like that. But I’m open to a new challenge and I’m looking forward to it.

MQ: You are 28 and, at that age, some players start to lose hope about their chances of playing overseas. Have you always been confident that your time would eventually come?

AR: I wouldn’t say that I was confident that it would happen, but I’ve always had an open mind about things like that. I’ve also been realistic that at my age, going to Europe may not be that realistic. But like I said earlier, I have always wanted to travel and to play football. Confident? No. But in football, anything can happen and hereweare.

MQ: How have you been welcomed into the set-up?

AR: Yeah, it’s been a very good welcoming and the Filipino are very friendly. I’ve done a lot of Zoom calls with the technical team and I’m just looking forward to meeting everyone and get going.

MQ: Is there any specific role that you will be playing in the team after they decided that you were the foreign centre-back that they have been looking for?

AR: They did mention to me during the discussions that they needed a ball-playing centre-back but they didn’t really specify what the ambitions of the club were, but they just mentioned about the calibre of a player that they were looking for and that was just about it.

MQ: What other offers did you have in Mzansi and abroad? AR: The move was unexpected when the team started calling me. We were three quarters into the PSL season and most other clubs around the world have similar seasons like in South Africa. To answer your question, it was unexpected and I wasn’t hoping for a move.

MQ: Coming back to Stellenbosch FC… Having joined the club in 2017, you went on to make close to 100 appearances in all competitions for them. How do you feel about your contribution to the Mother City outfit?

AR: (Thinks for a moment) It’s a difficult question, but to answer it briefly, I think that from when I arrived at the club to when I left the club, the club is in a lot better place than I found it. That fills me with a lot of gratitude and I’m content with where the club is currently from where I found it.

MQ: Having played alongside some of the top defenders in the league, like Morgan Gould, Robyn Johannes and Sibusiso Mthethwa, who did you enjoy partnering the most?

AR: I played with all three at the different stages of my time at Stellenbosch. Obviously, me and Sbu went through a lot together and we won the NFD (National First Division, now called the GladAfrica Championship) together. Then Morgan arrived and he is a veteran in the PSL, and there were other guys who also added their experience. In the last season or so, I played with Robyn, who, for me, is undoubtedly one of the best centre-backs in the league and one of the best passers of the ball. It’s been a great experience to play with all three at certain stages of my career and I learnt a lot from each of them and I achieved a lot with each of them.

MQ: Who has been your most difficult opponent in the DStv Premiership? AR: (Thinks for a moment) There are probably two that stand out and the first one is Bradley Grobler. I mention Bradley because I didn’t realise how strong he was, and you give him half a chance and the ball is in the back of the net. The second one was probably (Samir) Nurkovic from that first season he arrived at (Kaizer) Chiefs. I will never forget that game that Chiefs beat us 4-0 at Cape Town Stadium. He was a nightmare for me that day. I think again it was just the unexpectedness – I didn’t realise that he was quick as they were on the day. I thought he was just this big guy who was physical. There’s also (Luvuyo) Memela, who was a tough opponent for me. The guy can turn you inside out in the box and he has an eye for a pass. He was always a handful.

MQ: Talking about the most difficult game, which one would you pick as your best one in Stellies’ colours?

AR: That’s the most difficult one with all the games that come thick and fast, but the best moment for me was winning the league and getting the club to the PSL.

MQ: Tell us about working under the guidance of coach Steve Barker… AR: It’s been good, and we obviously come a long way together as he gave me my first chance in professional football and I will forever be grateful to him for that. He is a great motivator and I wish him and the club all the best.

MQ: In confirming your departure, Stellenbosch said in their statement, in part, “His legacy will forever remain in our history books.”

AR: I think it was special from the club to say that and, like I said earlier, we come a long way from where the club was to where it is now. I just hope that the club can continue with their upward trajectory and find themselves competing and not just for the Top Eight but for the league and the top position as well.

MQ: You also had spells with University of Pretoria and AmaZulu FC before joining Stellies. Can you tell us about your time at those two teams?

AR: It was a fantastic learning curve for me at both those clubs. When I arrived at Tuks, they had just finished their first season in the PSL and finished in the Top Eight, which not many people expected. So, it was a good first taste of South African football in the topflight. I didn’t play as many games as I would have liked, but like I say, it was a learning curve. Going to AmaZulu, it was a real challenge. The club had just been relegated and the aim was to get it promoted straight away. It was almost like going from not playing and learning at Tuks to going to a team that expected to win the league. It was a big challenge but one that I learnt a lot from. It was two very well-run clubs, I must say, and that’s all I am prepared to say about those two clubs.

MQ: Your career started with Barnet U18 team in England. How did you end up coming to SA to turn out for Tuks in 2013?

AR: I’ve only got a South African passport, so I went to further my education. I think education is a big thing and I would love to get that across to a lot of players locally. A football career is short and we do need to plan for life after football. When you are playing, it might feel like the football career will never end, but it does. So, I went to the UK for education and after my schooling, I saw the opportunity of playing professionally there, but because of the work permit restrictions and stuff, it was… because I don’t hold a European passport, I had to come back to South Africa and I saw the opportunity of playing here and that’s how I got into professional football. The long and short of it, I came back due to Visa issues and work permit stuff.

MQ: Talking about education, you are one of the few footballers with qualifications outside the game, as you completed a Bachelor of Commerce Generic. Tell us more about that?

AR: I’ve always been interested in numbers, and yes, it is a Bachelor of Commerce Generic and I majored in Financial Accounting and Economics. So, it was just a start to get something behind my name while still playing. When you are to start studying for a degree, it’s like it is going to take forever, but once you get going, it goes by in a flash and before you know it, you are the holder of a university degree. I would encourage a lot of people to look into it, especially the footballers. The line of work that I still want to go to is financial accounts and I’m still busy with my postgrad, which will help me to push towards being a chartered accountant.