Let’s tolerate one another
It is both interesting and surprising how some former athletes find it so easy to look down on their current counterparts to such an extent that they seem to disregard them completely. This nauseating attitude is slowly spiraling out of control in almost all the different sporting codes.
You find legends and sometimes just former players, because there’s a difference between the two, lambasting the current players in comparison to their heydays. Fair enough, sport – especially football – is a game of opinions and there are those who have earned the right to be heard, having seen and done it all on the field. These are legends whose insights are always refreshing and intriguing because they are not about bashing anyone but opening the masses’ eyes to what they feel is not getting the attention it deserves. These athletes are never about destroying the current players but showing them the way or calling them out when they feel the need. All of this is done respectfully and with lots of love because the legends know exactly how it feels to be a current player, having been there themselves. They know what it takes, they know
the trappings and temptations that come with the privilege of being in that position. Theirs is usually to make sure that the current players are aware of those and avoid repeating the same mistakes that other legends committed. Some of these legends barely made mistakes, but they speak out in protection of the game that they’d given so much to, love and enjoyed as the game changed their lives completely. They are not doing it for personal glory or out of bitterness. They are doing it to ensure continuity and preserve the game that made them who they are. They are also protecting the game because they still feel strongly associated with their favourite sport.
Then there are those who will lambaste everything done by the current players. Mostly, these are former players and not the legends. Remember the difference between the two. This is a group of bitter and miserable former players who failed to capitalize on the opportunities that the game provided
to them. They failed to keep their eye on the ball and fell into the trappings that come with the bright lights and the fame associated with being a professional athlete and being in the spotlight. They enjoyed their fame so much that they, unwittingly, thought it would never end. Most of them hardly lasted long enough in the game, despite the obvious talent. They were good but failed to elevate their careers to the next level. They are now a good study case to prove that talent alone is not enough. There are far lesser talented players who went on to make it big in their respective sporting codes simply because they were disciplined and focused. Out of regret, these former players become jealous of those who are in the same position now, to such an extent that they will claim today’s athletes aren’t as dedicated as them. They are all about money and no passion for sport at all, while “We just played the game for the love of it and putting smiles on our supporters’ faces. We were all about the club’s badge and that’s why we didn’t clubhop as much as the current cats are doing. They have zero loyalty and you can’t even watch their games for 20 minutes without getting bored. In fact, I don’t even watch these boys anymore.” These are some of the remarks you will get from some former players, who have absolutely nothing positive to say about the players they are supposed to be big brothers to. These players seem to forget that things have changed and therefore there is an urgent need for everyone to move with times. There is nothing wrong with celebrating your generation and believing they were better than the current, in comparison, but there’s everything wrong with celebrating one generation at the expense of the other.
Even in Basketball, you find former players calling the current generation soft and going on and on about how so-and-so wouldn’t even make the team back in the day, even though
he’s one of the best current players. Comparison will always be there,
but it can be done clean, without degrading or disrespecting the current players’ efforts.
Interestingly, some of the naysayers were done wrong by the Beautiful Game, where either their former clubs didn’t treat them right or they feel betrayed, let down by club bosses they trusted, and are bitter. A lot of things happen behind the scenes, but it is one thing to despise your former team for whatever reasons and it is another thing to take your frustrations out on the current players. Strange as it may sound, some former players and even legends hate the sport they served with pride and enjoyed so much because of the raw deal they feel they got from it. Some are still owed monies, while others still believe they were exploited, but to take it out on the current generation instead of grabbing the proverbial bull by the horn is not fair. Sport in general has changed in the last 15 years or so, most players are earning
much better and the working conditions have improved immensely. It is not the current players’ fault that teams are now forced to take better care of them than they used to do back in the day. It is not the current players’ fault that there’s more money in sport and endorsements now than back in the day. It also can’t be blamed on the current players that the whole system has changed and technology has made things better. There is more scientific approach in the game than back then, even the injuries now aren’t the same as back then. Truth be told, while the current players are earning better than former players, those very same former players were earning better than the generation before them and so on and so forth and stuff like that! Let’s tolerate one another.
Maybe it is time we stopped comparing and just appreciated the different generations. Maybe that way, the ongoing professional jealousy will be a thing of the past where we will not hear of anything like, “These boys are earning too much but lack quality. They
have more resources, yet they’re not better than us.” The current players have been so quiet and focused on the job at hand as you hardly hear them retaliate whenever shade is thrown at them. The last active player to do so was Lerato Chabangu clapping back at then Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula, who famously called Bafana Bafana a bunch of losers! Affectionately known as All You Need is Love, Chabangu wasted no time with his well-documented response, “He’s also a bunch of losers.”
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Tumi Gabonamong: Ricardo, first things first, you had very little game-time at Mamelodi
Sundowns the past two years, and now find yourself at SuperSport United…
Ricardo Goss: Look, in the two or so years that Ispent at Sundowns, I don’t think I played over 10 games and obviously that wasn’t good for me and my playing
career. Iknew for that to change, Ineeded to most probably make a move elsewhere and Ibelieve being here at SuperSport United will do just that for me. Don’t get
me wrong, Iknow it won’t be easy, but Ibelieve Istand agood chance of fighting for the number one position here.
TG: Did you ask to be loaned out?
RG: Honestly, Ididn’t ask for the loan and I’m still abit puzzled, but Ithink it was aswap kind of deal with Ronwen (Williams).
TG: Okay, so if Ronwen had not moved over to Chloorkop, what would have happened to you this season then? Did a loan move cross your mind, especially looking at how well Jody February did in his loan spell at Swallows FC last season?
RG: Look, yeah, honestly, it was playing in my mind, but Ialso felt like this third season, Icould have pushed abit and fought for that starting berth because when Ilooked at the
goalkeepers there, we have to be honest,theyareageing.Withthatinmind, Ithought maybe then I’ll finally get a chance and use it. As you’ve seen, at
Sundowns, it’s very hard for aplayer … well, except for Ronwen, ha, ha, ha … to come in and just get into the team. It’s tough, so Ihad thought perhaps if Ipushed myself extra hard this season, Iwas eventually going to get that chance.
TG: You had the bulk of pre-season training at Downs and news of Ronza joining did the rounds pretty much from the start of pre-season. What was going through your mind then?
RG: Look, by then I knew Iwas already coming this side, you know. Iknew that if Ronwen went that side, then I’d be coming this side because it was discussed with me midway
into the pre-season training. Ithink what also delayed things was the issue of was Igoing out permanently or on loan? Eventually, it was decided that it will be a two-year loan move. I know they are fighting for me to be permanent
and I’d love to be here because Ifeel appreciated. As time goes by and with some gametime under my belt, you’ll never know…
TG: People tend to criticise the Brazilians for what they term ‘destroying careers’. You joined the club on the back of a great campaign at Wits. What was going through your mind
when you made the move, knowing all too well the criticism that often comes with joining Sundowns?
RG: When Isigned for Sundowns, my agent told me it wouldn’t be easy. Ididn’t quite know at that time exactly how tough it would be because I was just too happy that Ihad signed for a new team, Sundowns. But when
Igot there and as time went by, Irealised just how hard it really was, that it was more difficult than Ithought. The experienced goalkeepers had been there for a very long time and were playing very well. And you know it’s never easy to change agoalkeeper who’s on-form. Imean, how many clean sheets was Denis (Onyango) keeping when I was there? Those kind of things. One thing for sure, Ipicked up alot of things from those guys. The consistency, which is very difficult. The goalkeeping tricks and a whole lot that I learnt from Denis, Kennedy Mweene, Reyaad Pieterse and others.
TG: How far down the order do you think you
pecking were? RG: Phew! The first season, I think I was pretty much the second choice, or third. But Imust say it was communicated that there really was no second choice and that anyone could play at any moment should they be needed to, if anything happened to Denis. The second season was tougher because Ihardly got to be on the bench, so I’d probably say I was fourth after Denis, Kennedy and Reyaad.
TG: In Tshwane like of a little to the gets the medals?
RG: Tricky. Mixed emotions. Look, I’ve got four medals at home – two DStv Premiership, an MTN8 and a Nedbank Cup. (Deep sigh) Luckily, three of those Idid play… Iplayed about 20 minutes in the MTN8, one game in the Nedbank Cup and about three games in the league. Obviously, for me, not the kind of contribution I would have liked to have put in. And not to disrespect, sometimes it can tend to be like these are just medals, you know. You feel like you want to help the team win the medals. But then, when Ilooked at it with adif
a winning team like the giants, what’s the mindset player who’s contributing success but celebrates and
“I knew that if Ronwen went that side, then I’d be coming this side.”