Interview with George Lebese

Reason: He is probabaly set to be the one replaycing Simpiwe Shabalala. And he has his own style and technique of play. I’d like to give the fans more of him, because he is not a regular but the glimps we see of him are very promising ?

OM: Thank you for doing this interview George. Fistly congrats on the goal you scored against a big team like Tottenham Hotspur. How did you feel about that goal?

GL: Like you said, it was a preseason match, so it wasn’t an official goal. But with that said, scoring against Tottenham, with all the hype,I was just so happy to score.

OM: You did well on the pitch on that day, and you looked on form, what were the coaches remarks to you about your performan on that day?

GL: He didn’t say much. That’s how he expects me to play everytime I’m on the pitch. I want to be one of those players who start every game and I always have to play well. But yeah, he just said well done.

OM: You started playing professionally at a young age. Was it easy or difficult for you to adapt to high level football?

GL: It was difficult at first, but then the senior player here made it a little easier because they accommodate you and show you the ropes. But at the young age it was difficult because the fans always expect you to deliver whenever you play.

OM: Kaizer Chiefs is a big team and you come from Arcadia Shepards. How did you feel when they approached you and how did your parents take it, as you had to move away from home?

GL: Well, it was huge. Arcadia is a Vodacom League team and Kaizer Chiefs is one of the biggest teams in Africa. So coming from there to here was very difficult, but my teammates helped me out out a lot and I have adapted very well.

OM: When you had finally completed your transfer to Kaizer Chiefs in 2008, you said you want to follow in the footsteps of Jabu Mahlangu-Not the road of destruction though but the time of his peak. Things have changed now and I’d still like to ask, is that still your motive to want to be like him?

GL: I want to be George. I liked Jabu as a player and what he did here at Chiefs. He made a huge impact, but I want to start my own legacy and build up my own name.

OM: Shabba is left footed you are too. He is a great set-piece taker, you are too .You also play the same position as him. Do you always find people comparing you to him?

GL: We are different types of players, but I’m learning from him. He is a senior player and he plays good football. If I don’t do better than him, I would like to follow in his footsteps. (Laughs)

OM: Do you feel a proffessional football player has earned a successful career when their playing overseas or they can becomne successful here at home in South Africa?

I think overseas is the best place to make your name, but here at Chiefs it is very similar to Europe and it prepares you to go overseas.