It has to be both ways

Delmain Faver: Tight, it must be a really good feeling to be fighting for trophies instead of being embroiled in a relegation dogfight!

Joseph Molangoane: Last season, we had a little bit of a relegation fight in front of us, so we needed to win in the league and then start focusing on the Nedbank Cup. This season is a little bit easier because now we want to be in the Top Eight. But we’re not being pushed to win games like last season, so we can breathe this season compared to last season. That’s what I can say.

DF: As players, are you feeling the pressure of defending your trophy because regardless of which name you’re playing under, the trophy belongs to you?

JM: Let me tell you, we have a good chance to win the final. We have a coach who has won this trophy and he knows more about the trophy. So, for us, it’s just, you know… when you’ve got someone that has got an experience of the trophy and how to win it, it becomes easy for us and the pressure just goes down for us. So, I just feel that everyone is looking forward to the final. At the end of the day, we can say whatever, but the most important (thing) is (what happens) on the day and who wants it the most.

DF: Well, at the start of the season, it was quite tough for you guys to breathe because you didn’t really have a good start. What would you say was the turning point for the team?

JM: Honestly speaking, I think the new coach that came when the season started (Sebastien Migné), he did his best and unfortunately, the results were not coming. Immediately when they put coach Dan (Malesela) as the new coach, I think he came with luck and (we) started winning games. Things turned around and how we played just became easy. Everyone gets along with everything that the coach came with. So, I would say the turning point was when the management decided to get a new coach.

DF: How massive would you say coach Dan has been in transforming the club’s fortunes?

JM: For me personally, when coach Dan came, I wasn’t playing. Then he came in and he put me in the team. He has trusted and believed in me. So, I think everything has gelled in and I started believing in myself more, I started playing more, and that gave me the confidence. I think everyone in the team right now, if you can ask them, is willing to play. Everyone is happy to play football again. Unlike then when we lost games, some players would be scared and it’s the nature of the game – the more you lose, the more you get under pressure and you can’t play your normal game.

DF: What is it that the coach has asked of you on the field, seeing that you’re one of the more experienced members of the squad? What is his expectation of you?

JM: I was injured and injured badly. You know, sometimes I would be scared to play and to get into challenges and stuff, but when Coach Dan came, he just said to me, “I know your capabilities. I know what you can do for the team. So, what I want you to do, I want you to go out

there and do what

It’s hard to imagine that two years ago, Joseph Molangoane was on the verge of being shown the door by Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila without officially kicking a ball for the team. After all, this was one of the few players who got to turn out in the colours of both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in what has been a colourful career. But, in his own words, football can change in a minute and there was no greater depiction of this than when the veteran attacker got retribution when the

club was sold to new owners, renamed and relocated. This change brought about a new lease on life for the man you can best do for the team.”Those words just came into my mind and I was like, ‘Let me go do what I do best’, and today I’m here talking a difference compared to when the season started.

DF: In preparing for this interview, we had to double check whether you are really 34 because you show no signs of slowing down. What has been the formula or secret behind that constant drive and desire that you still have to be going after all these years?

JM: Football, to me, it’s been everything. Football put me where I am. I love being on the field of play. I love playing. And I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon. So, it’s just me being there. I just love being on the field. I just love it! I can’t say much about the inspiration, but I just love being on the pitch. The only thing that drives me is that the field is my happy place. I just want to be inside the field.

DF: Looking at where you are now, to think that two seasons ago, you were on the verge of leaving the team, only for you to then come back and return to your ‘happy place’ and be such an integral part of the club… JM: (Cuts in) You know, sometimes – not sometimes, all the time – God is great. God is amazing. So, from two seasons ago, let’s say three seasons ago, I never thought I would play football ever again. I got an opportunity, and things were difficult for me at TTM (Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila). The new owners came into the team,

things were difficult, but I kept on persisting and I kept on fighting. Now I can say to you I’m playing, and you can say what you are saying today that I’m playing and I’m a big part of the team. So, for me, it all comes from the Almighty and I’m

thankful and grateful.

DF: Your contract with the club expires in June. Is that something that occupies your mind at all? Do you always play with that thought or notion that there’s only two months left on your deal?

JM: Let me tell you a story about me when I left Chippa to (Kaizer) Chiefs. I was doing well at Chippa. I was using a small phone, where I didn’t get emails, I didn’t get calls. Like, I didn’t know anything. So, until the day we were playing Chiefs the next day, I was in camp. Then I got a call from Tshepo Mabona (his representative) and he said to me, “I want to talk to you.” At that time, Chippa came to me with a contract at the same time and I was like, ‘Hey, what’s happening here?’ I was then forced to sign a contract on the day, and I said to Chippa, “I can’t sign the contract.” Then I was chased out of the camp. I went straight to my house. From my house, I went to Sandton and I signed a pre-contract with Kaizer Chiefs. So, what I’m saying is that when I play, I don’t even think of such because now in football, anything can change in a minute. Anything can change. So, for me, with my experience, I just play. I do my best on the pitch and I know if offers come, we’ll sit down and we’ll talk. At the moment, I’ll give the team the first priority because I’m here in this moment because of them.

“Some players would be scared and it’s the nature of the game.”

nicknamed “Tight”, who has grabbed his second chance with both hands. In this interview with Soccer Laduma’s Delmain Faver, the 34-year-old talks about the season so far, why he is confident of bagging another trophy, how far he is from hanging up his boots, and more.

DF: We hope you have a more modern phone now, ha, ha. So, do you believe you’ve done enough to earn a new contract with the club?

JM: You know, I’m at work, I’m in business. If someone comes up with a better offer than (the one tabled by the) the team, I just have to be open and honest with them and go make money. That’s business, because at the end of the day, when they’re tired of me in this team, they’ll let me leave, you understand? So, it has to be both ways. If they can match up what the other team comes with, I will stay, but if they can’t, I need to make them understand that I’ve got kids, I’ve got my mom at home and other things.You know this business of ours. So, I need to make sure that everything is in order.

DF: Fair enough. Now that you’re in the twilight of your career, is seeing out the remainder of your playing days at Marumo Gallants something that you are not ruling out?

JM: Honestly, you know I’m a boy from Limpopo. I was born here. Throughout my career, I had never had an opportunity to come back and play at home. This is the only time that I’m playing at home. I would love to stay longer, and if an opportunity arises for me to still work for the team, because I’m at home, I would love that. It’s just a matter of time and how the team matches (any other offer that might be on the table) and how you deal with things. I would love to stay long. I started with the team and hopefully I can finish up with the team and be one of the… you know, teams have legends, so I’ll be one of Marumo’s legends. ❐

“I was then forced to sign a contract on the day…”