It’s just an excuse
You would have to be a blind person not to notice the improvement in Teboho Mokoena’s game since he moved to Mamelodi Sundowns from SuperSport United in January 2022. Seeing he joined mid-season, the period leading up to the end of last term was one of settling in, and the midfielder was honest enough to admit that it was not all smooth-sailing. The hard work that goes on, on the training pitch, at the Chloorkop-based side explains why they keep pulling away with ease from the chasing pack season after season, much to the displeasure of some, who believe Downs are turning the DStv Premiership into a ‘boring’ league where competition for top honours seems a thing of the past. The outside noise, however, does not deter Mokoena, as he tells Soccer Laduma’s Delmain Faver in this interview courtesy of PUMA. And despite being touted as one of the favourites for the 2022/23 PSL Player of the Season award, the Bethlehem-born star believes there are certain areas of improvement in his game. Read on…
Delmain Faver: Tebza, we are conducting a fantastic boot giveaway with PUMA to four lucky Soccer Laduma readers. In your own words, what do the entrants stand to win?
Teboho Mokoena: They are going to win comfort and quality. I wouldn’t say speed because maybe they might be slow, ha, ha, ha. Just kidding!
DF: As a professional athlete, how important is it for you to align yourself with a brand the magnitude of PUMA?
TM: Obviously, it’s (about) building my brand. It’s a big brand globally, with a lot of professionalism, work ethic – obviously it’s off-the-field work. They’ve taken care of me for the past, I think, five years now. Yeah, it’s a very good brand and I’ve been working well with Lefa (Tsutsulupa, PUMA SA Football Sponsorship Coordinator) and Tshepo (Mashishi, PUMA SA Regional Marketing Manager).
DF: You are one of the few players who debuted the new FUTURE Supercharge boot. Having played a couple of matches wearing it, what is your honest assessment?
TM: The technology has been on the up from day one. I love how the new Powertape supports stabili ty, the Fuzionfit ensures flexibility and comfort and the outsole provides a mix of stiffness and flexibility.
DF: In your CAFC hampions League group stage opener against Al Hilal, a lot of players seemed to be slipping all over the place because of the wet conditions of the pitch…
TM: (Cuts in) I slipped a few times too, ha, ha, ha. I didn’t even wear the right boots. I should have worn the multi-stud ones. I was wearing normal studs. But other than that, they are very comfortable.
DF: Of course, it was a special match for you as you captained the club on the day. This must have been a huge honour.
TM: Yeah, no, it’s a very huge honour for me, especially (seeing it was the) first game, first win as a captain. It was a really important win for the team.
DF: Was your task made easier by having the likes of Ronwen Williams and Mothobi Mvala, leaders in their own right, around you?
TM: I think everyone on the field is a leader. It’s just that you need to choose one who’s going to wear the armband on the day and I was the one. Everyone on the field is a leader.
DF: Looking at your stats, you completed 118 passes, won eight out of 10 ground duels, made three clearances, while also making two interceptions. Some impressive numbers…
TM: I think it was a better performance as compared to the previous game I played against (Orlando) Pirates, but I think there’s a lot of improvement that I need in my game. Obviously, I need to score goals, I need to assist. I can’t have 90% pass completion without an assist or at least a goal. I think, for me, it really doesn’t help because I want to score, I want to assist or create a few c ances. At least I created one that Peter (Shalulile) missed. That’s what I want. I don’t want 90% pass rate passing sideways. I’d rather make 90% passing forward than playing sideways.
DF: Last season, you were the first to admit that you struggled with the intensity at Mamelodi Sundowns, and in the current campaign you’ve pretty much been the heartbeat in that midfield. Talk us through the work you put in to get to this level. TM: Yeah, I think I did a lot of work during pre-season and I did a lot of work on the analysis. I checked my stats when I got to Sundowns from January until June. I checked my stats and I checked where I needed to improve because obviously at Sundowns, there’s people who are responsible for performance analysis, so they give you that. I went back home in pre-season and analysed my weaknesses and worked on them, and I think I’m getting better. But I need to score. What’s lacking now is goals and assists and then the few (instances of) wrong decision-making in the final third. However, I’m getting there, I’m getting there...
DF: At SuperSport United, coach Kaitano Tembo said that he wanted to push you further up the field to an eight, where you could influence the game more in the final third. This season we’ve seen you play as a six again. Quite an adjustment, hey? TM: I think it all boils down to the good coaching I’ve gotten at the team. I think coach Rhulani (Mokwena), coach Manqoba (Mngqithi), coach Steve (Komphela) and obviously the people around me, which is the players, made it easy for me because we help each other on the field, off the field we help each other. So, there’s a lot of work done behind closed doors. The credit must go to the coaches and the analysts because they did a lot of work on that, but I’ve played there before. When I got to SuperSport, I was playing as a six and I was competing with Dean (Furman). That’s when they moved me up because there was no way I was going to play as he was the captain, playing for Bafana Bafana and I was only 19 that time. That’s when I started to play as an eight and then now I went back again to a six, so it’s my natural position.
DF: Set-pieces is another area of your game that has improved. Is that down to natural ability or extra work?
TM: I’m working on it, I’m working on it.
DF: How much of your confidence comes from coach Rhulani, who’s obviously a big admirer of yours?
TM: I think he motivates everyone in the club the same, you see. He does that for everyone at the club. Even during friendly games, even during training sessions he does that. It’s not only certain individuals, it’s the whole squad.
DF: Sipho Mbule, your ex-midfield partner at Matsatsantsa, has since linked up with you at Downs. Did you help him settle in?
TM: Yeah, we actually met before he came and then I told him about my struggles when I got here. Even him, when he got here, he struggled a little bit because he hadn’t played football for, like, a year, but now you can see he’s gaining his momentum. He’s doing well and everyone in the team loves him. They know the quality he has, they know what he can bring to the team, and I think the coaches have done a good job to bring him in, to keep him grounded and keep him working hard because he’s working very hard.
DF: With another league title almost in the bag, you guys are closing in on a record of clinching the league with the fewest matches won.
TM: Unfortunately, that’s not what we are talking about. We aren’t talking about breaking records. If we can win 16, 17, 18, 19, 20… If Bayern (Munich) can do it, we can also do it. We are working on that.
DF: Talk in some quarters, though, is that Sundowns are being aided by their financial muscle to dominate SA football. Your thoughts?
TM: It’s just an excuse because we do a lot of work. Us, we know better because we are there. I think if someone were in our shoes, then they would understand the situation better. Even me, when I was at SuperSport, I didn’t understand the work they put in here because I was just seeing them winning, winning, winning, winning, but when I got here, I saw it’s actually a 9 to 5 (job), you understand? Yeah! It will be 21h00 and then the coach will call you and ask, “Are you watching the game? Did you watch yourself? Did you do analysis?” You understand? I didn’t get that when I was at SuperSport. Well, I was getting it, but not like (it is) now.
DF: Last season, you were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarterfinals. What steps has the club taken to ensure you go all the way this time?
TM: Ha, ha, ha, that’s our secret!
DF: But we know it’s something the team is striving for, getting that second star, especially with the league title wrapped up pretty much.
TM: But the league is not wrapped up, but yeah, we’re focusing on this.
DF: What would it mean to the group to lift the most prestigious trophy on the continent in terms of club football?
TM: I think “Mshishi” (Themba Zwane) likes to joke and say when he wins the Champions League (again), he is going to retire. So, you see, he’s waiting for it. So, if we win it, some of the players will retire happily.
DF: No ways, he mustn’t retire yet, the fans still want to see more of his magic on the pitch. On a personal note, your name is mentioned amongst those who could be nominated for the PSL Midfielder of the Season and even Player of the Season. Have you set your sights on such accolades?
TM: Honestly speaking, no. I usually set my target for the season when it starts. I don’t put individual awards, I just put how many goals I wanna score, how many assists I want to get, the pass completion, how many interceptions, how many tackles this season… the whole season. Individual awards? No. Trophies for the team? Yes. I didn’t plan to win Young Player of the Season, but I won it. For me, it’s like a cherry on top. If I get it, I’m happy, but if I don’t, it’s still fine. If we win the league, win Champions League, my friend, that’s better!