March was the last time I was paid
“It is a chapter and a door that is closed and it was also a learning experience.”
VirgilVries’ s tory with Swallow sF C reads something like a bright and sparkly romance gone wrong. Initially, he joined the ambitious club with stars in his eyes, desperate to help them make the leap to the top flight, something he achieved after just one season. All good! Such that the ‘romance’ continued in the DStv Premier ship, where the Namibian born star was immovable in goal as the club secured a credible Top Eight finish. But just one season later, cracks started appearing in the‘ relationship ’. The 33- year old suffered a horrific knee injury, which saw him side lined fora year, while the club ran into financial difficulties, which ultimately led to the two parties going their separate ways. For this interview, Soccer La du ma’ s D el main F aver caught up with the well travelled player, who has been trying his luck with a new‘ love interest ’in Ama Zulu FC.
Delmain Faver: Virgil, how have things been going for you?
Virgil Vries:
Everything has a mental aspect. In terms of me being out for a year without football and the whole recovery process, it took a toll on myself, but I am happy that I am back and that I am training again and being part of goalkeeper training sessions. Not that I am 10 0 % fully fit, but we are working on it. I have my own programme also in terms of gym and strengthening because you know in terms of the type of injury, which is a knee, you can’t stop or say that you are 100% (healed). You have to keep strengthening it, you understand?
DF: It must have been a very frustrating period when you suffered the injury, which saw you sidelined for up to a year.
VV: Ja, to be honest, it was the frustrating part with the whole operation, which also took time, and I’m just happy that I did my operation and I gave Swallows what I could, and for me, that’s the best part. Unfortunately, the team was fighting relegation last season, not something that you like in the position that you are in, in terms of injuries, where you want to help and contribute to the club. I am happy that we have come to a conclusion in terms of parting ways with Swallows. For me, there is no bad blood and I am grateful for the opportunity that they gave me.
to keep you or you were going to leave. How did you find out that the club had decided against keeping you?
VV: Ja, you know, from my side it was already clear because there was a lot of stuff that happened. Like I said, the operation, me and my agent had to pay for it. Everything was from my own pocket, and these are things that hurt you at the end of the day. I didn’t know what the decision was because they didn’t put me on the list of the released players, but I think my agent was dealing with it. That’s why I was just trying to work and get my rehab proper because that was the most important thing for me, and after that, I would focus on getting the next move or opportunity.
DF: A number of senior players left with you. Did you get a chance to talk to the guys about this?
VV:
To be honest, the club had its struggles in terms of finances, so it was bound to happen. But I felt like they could have kept some of the senior players because they are needing them now, especially with this season. The spine, which is senior players, is the most important and then to gel them in with the youngsters because the youngsters give you the energy, but the seniors bring the experience and to have that is always a good thing.
DF: It must have been really disappointing for you because in the 2020/21 season, which was the Dube Birds’ first back in the topflight, you were the first-choice goalkeeper and kept six clean sheets in 23 appearances…
VV: Like I said, I did well, to be honest, in terms of my numbers for the club. At the end of the day, it goes both ways where I helped them and they helped me and we could clearly see that with my contribution to the club and what happened. From the First Division (the then GladAfrica Championship, now Motsepe Foundation Championship) to the PSL (topflight) and even in the PSL before my injury, I did well and we were sitting in a good position. As a player, you always sit back and reflect on those things.
DF: The club went from finishing well within the Top Eight in that first campaign back in the elite division to narrowly escaping relegation through the play-offs the next. What do you think led to this dramatic change in fortunes?
VV: I think in terms of the position that we finished in the previous season, it took a lot (of effort) from us and I feel that even the way we started, we started well. Okay, the decisions that management had taken to get a new coach, I think that also unsettled the team a little bit because each and every thing has its own factors, you understand? But in terms of mentality also, I feel like as players we could have done a lot better, to be honest. I think to be in a position like that with a brand like Swallows, it’s us as players that it came down to. But I am happy that they survived and that they had a clean slate this season and hope that they’ll do well.
DF: You mention the coach that came in, which was obviously Dylan Kerr. He has since parted ways with the club. Did you see it coming?
VV: For me, after I parted ways with Swallows, that was my chapter closed. I was surprised to see that their coach was fired. They had their reasons for doing that and maybe it was the results and maybe it could be the 4-0 loss (to Golden Arrows) because it’s a brand, a big one and it should be represented well also.
DF: Swallows are said to have experienced financial troubles. Were you as players affected by this and would you say that this had an impact on performances?
VV: No, that’s the whole thing. In terms of the position they were in, even last season facing financial trouble, it affects players at the end of the day because it’s important that you get your money on time. Even now, I am being owed money, but it’s things that I hope we can resolve and I’ll see if they make any payments now because I think March was the last time I was paid. I think it’s unfortunate that the club finds itself in this situation and hopefully they get sponsors because a brand like that deserves sponsors and not these type of troubles that they find themselves in. But to be honest, it was a difficult phase, but we understood from the club’s perspective that they were struggling financially and that’s why I took the decision, personally, to get (only) half of my salary because of the situation the club was in. Somewhere, somehow, we had to meet each other halfway. Hopefully the halves that are outstanding will be paid now. But it is a chapter and a door that is closed and it was also a learning experience for me. We move, we get better and we move on.
DF: Speaking of moving on, in early August you started training with AmaZulu FC under a coach you’ve worked with before, Brandon Truter.
VV: I won’t lie, it’s an amazing feeling. I’ve been craving it. It’s good to be back, good to be diving again, good to be playing. I can only be grateful to AmaZulu for giving me an opportunity and even assisting me in terms of rehab. You know the club is also professional with an unbelievable set-up and I am just looking forward to using this opportunity to be the best I can be because I just want to be better. There’s a lot that I have learnt, but you can only improve in terms of being given that opportunity to learn your technique and strength, and the only place you can get that is on the training ground. I have that opportunity now and I am using it.
DF: So, what’s the latest? VV:
To be honest, I’m hopeful (of securing a deal). It’s an amazing club and the set-up that they have here is amazing and that is why I’m here. I’m pushing myself and it’s all based on my progress, how I’m doing, how well I’m doing and then we can sit down and talk about it, but for now, the fact that I have physically started training with the squad, it is a good thing. I can say that I’m now three or four steps ahead. So, being here and being in this environment with the club, it is an amazing environment and I wish that if given an opportunity, I can add value and get better.
DF: What is the working relationship that you share with coach Truter like?
VV: We have an open relationship him and I. He’s very open and honest with me and he also helped me a lot in terms of my game aspects, in terms of tactics. I understand his philosophy and the way he wants to play, and I complement him the way he complements me. He gave me a chance where he said, “Come and have a try and work, let’s see if there is a possibility that we can add you.” Everything is based on what I can offer and what I can do and by God’s grace only, and I can only be thankful for the work that I put in so that he can see what I can contribute and what I can add to an amazing club, who have amazing goalkeepers from the youngsters to our number one, Veli (Mothwa). It’s always nice when there is competition and to be in an environment where you can compete because that is how you get better and it also puts the club in a better position. It’s not only about the players individually, but also the standard of the club is being raised in that way.