PETERSEN WAS LIKENED TO MARADONA
Umkhonto even used fake name for one move
“CALVIN Ein Zweiter Maradona!” (Calvin is another Maradona), screamed the back page headline of Austrian newspaper Sport Burgenland on October 15 1986, likening Calvin Petersen to the legendary Diego Maradona.
It was at a time when Maradona was at his peak, leading Argentina to the 1986 World Cup glory – forget about that infamous “Hand of God”.
The headline could not have been more accurate. Petersen was in brutal form – scoring crucial goals for Austrian premier club Eduscho Eistenstadt.
He was rated highly by his teammates, technical staff, fans and media. He has newspaper clippings to back this.
We visited “Michael Jackson” or “Umkhonto ”, as Petersen was affectionately known in the game, at his lovely house in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, recently to learn more about him.
So you still have these newspaper clippings from your time in Austria?
I will keep them for the rest of my life. They are special to me just like all these trophies and medals you see here [pointing at a full trophy cabinet in the dinning room].
What do they mean to you?
That I did something good for South African football and also held the country’s flag high in Austria.
How did you end up playing for Eduscho Eistenstadt?
Jomo Sono [Jomo Cosmos’ owner-coach] facilitated that move in 1986. The club was desperate for a striker after Shane McGregor had left them.
Why did you leave Eistenstadt at a time you were regarded highly?
The club was struggling financially and could
Why were you suspended by the Federation Professional League (FPL)?
I joined Maritzburg United who were playing in the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) from Berea FC, who were under the FPL. So what ’ s wrong with that? It was against the rules because FPL players were not allowed to play in the NPSL. They told me that I played ‘ normal football under abnormal society’. Things did not work for me at Maritzburg, so I returned to Berea FC cap in hand, but the federation refused to register me. I had to stay at home for several months. I pleaded with them and I was eventual taken back.
At one stage you faked your name when you joined Durban Bush Bucks, what was the reason?
[Laughs] I didn’t want to be caught by the FPL again. I went back to the NPSL to play for Bush Bucks in 1984 under the false name of Harare da Silva. I was trying to cover myself in case things don’t work in the NPSL and I decided to return to FPL. Were you not afraid that you would be caught?
No because players and coaches from FPL clubs were not allowed to watch NPSL matches. Even our supporters were encouraged to stay away from FPL matches. Ja, so I thought I will get away with it.
So what happened next?
I was caught after one of the journalists covering the match wrote the story that I had joined Bush Bucks. There were pictures of me playing in that match to confirm the story.
Did you continue playing for the team? I did, under my real name. Who were you playing with at Bush Bucks?
It was a star-studded side with the likes of Mlungisi ‘ Professor’ Ngubane, Mark Tovey, Dave Wattson, Daniel Ramarutsi, Bernard Gonde, Raul Gonzalez, Mike ‘ Sporo’ Mangena. We won the league in 1985 under Clive Barker. We dominated everything. When did you first not pay players.
So you returned to Durban Bush Bucks?
Yes, and I scored in my first match against Moroka Swallows in quarterfinals of the JPS. We won that match 1-0 at Ellis Park. I also scored two quick goals and finished off Orlando Pirates within 15 minutes in the final [Bucks won the final 2-1]. make it in the professional ranks?
In 1979 when I joined Cape Town Spurs just before I turned 20. I scored the winning goal when we lifted the 1980 FPL Mainstay Cup final the following year. I left them in 1981 to play for Berea FC when I relocated to Durban. I formed a deadly partnership with Keith America.
You once took a break from football for a while, what was the reason?
It was in 1988 and I stayed home for about seven months and I did that on principle.
Bush Bucks sold me to Swallows and I was not happy with certain things in the contract, which I prefer not to talk about. But it was against my principles, hence I stayed at home. We renegotiated with Swallows and it took me just 15 minutes to sign a new contract. It was difficult to stay at home without a salary.
Can you describe your stay at the Birds ’ aviary?
Exciting! I really enjoyed work- ing under Eddie Lewis. David Chabeli [the late Swallows boss] was also a shrewd administrator and treated us like his own children.
You won the Bob Save in 1989 with them ... how did you fare in the final?
Broer , I was on song. I was unstoppable and I scored another brace as we beat Mamelodi Sundowns 5-1 to lift the trophy. I ended my career at D’Alberton Callies in 1992.
You made headlines at D ’ Alberton Callies when you punched teammate Zane Moosa in one of your matches. What happened?
Zane insulted my mother and I lost my temper and punched him. Why? I think he was frustrated after he lost the ball I’d passed him.
What are you doing at the moment?
I’m a chief scout for the SAB League in KwaZulu-Natal.