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.

Is there hope for the PSL.

I was disappointed after watching a couple of PSL matches at the standard of our local soccer. I mean it is called Premier Soccer league, which really represents the highest level football but it does not reflect that on the pitch.

I am not a control freak, it’s just that, we as South African hail our local teams so much, we tend to forget about the silly childish mistakes they do on the pitch. I mean who expects an indirect free kick or even a fowl throw in a premier league soccer match. Those are some of the silly mistakes our “professional” soccer players do in league and cup matches.

I am a lover of soccer, just like you, who is reading this blog, but as a soccer fanatic, don’t we anticipate high class football from our local teams, especially if their professional. And the goals on the other hand are a big disappointment. After a full PSL weekend, we only have about 10 goals scored. It might not have happened this weekend, but it happens countless times throughout the duration of the season.

Is it a problem or is it’s just hard to score goals in SA.

I think the players don’t work hard enough on the pitch, don’t work hard at practice or even after that. I’ve heard about some of the star players in the world who practice individually for more hours after their team practice is over, but rarely heard anything about our South African stars.

The subject matter here is we are in demand of high class football. We want to talk more about our PSL teams in buses, trains at work and at gatherings and we want to talk less about the Rooney’s, the Ronaldo’s, the Messi’s.

We have players that can really make our PSL shine among the rest. We have the capabilities to have a competitive league, not only Chiefs and Pirate competing at in every cup final. It’s just that I believe we as supporters demand more. If they want to see more people in stadiums, then let’s see the magic on the pitch.

Is Benni a threat to the PSL?

Benni ”in the 18 area” McCarthy, the only South African with a UEFA Champions League gold medal has returned home and is playing for the Buccaneers-Orlando Pirates.

Now this is a player who has been travelling all around Europe, playing in some of the best team teams in the world and has achieved so much in his international period. He still stands as the top goal scorer for the national team and is one of the South Africa’s best and most prosperous export in 12 years.

With his credentials he has the experience that 90% of the Premier Soccer League players have not even sniffed, and is now playing in S.A. where this league is still developing.

He is now playing for Orlando Pirates and to the rest of the PSL teams, does he pose a threat? Well the answer is yes and maybe no?

Yes, because he has the experience that most players don’t have and he has played against the best. I believe weather he is so called “un-fit” he still has the ability to score goals, and I believe he will because Pirates is the kind of team that need accurate goal scorers. If you take some time to look at some of the goals he has scored in the past,you would see that he has done some damage against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. And what stops him from doing more damage to the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, Sundown’s or even Super Sport United. If its the question of being slow you’re asking, then maybe you should think about the likes of AC Milans Filippo Inzaghi, Roma’s Frencsco Totti or even our Golden Arrows Collins Mbesuma who may not the most fastest players but make a mark in putting the ball in the back on the net, so what’s stopping Benni

If we had to say he is not a threat, what would be the reasons justifying that.

No he is not a threat because he might actually be a weakness that teams might thrive on. I mean whether you where the greatest soccer player or not, age tends to catch up with you. Just because you scored goals when you where 20 doesn’t mean you can if you’re 30. All I’m saying is teams may gain some momentum knowing that Benni is on the field, and they might capitalize on that. Whether he has the experience its all in his head, and may not be in his legs. And everyone knows you need to your legs to play the game, does he really still have it.

The truth is Benni is back, and he has proved himself on his debut Match this passed weekend against Black Leopards by scoring. And though you might think it was a “flook” it wasn’t , because Benni is a striker and he has the strikers instinct, so its his job to score.

The questions still remains, will he keep it up for the whole season? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Who is taking it?

The Absa premiership title ends tomorrow! And there are three teams who are standing in the run to win it. Out of 16 PSL teams only three are now 90 minutes away from holding the Absa 2010\2011 premiership cup.

Kaizer Chiefs, who had a great run this season? They played their best most of the games but failed to perform on games that were very vital. They once were heading to the top of the PSL log and they drew 3 matches in a row. This was a huge disappointment for the team and the fans as they saw their dream becoming very blur. Now they have to play the last league match hoping that both the 1^st & 2^nd league position holders will lose or draw so that they can have the PSL title in their hands.

Well it’s just a little to late!

Orlando Pirates had an amazing 2010/2011 season. Football analyst’s believes that the buccaneers had the some of the best players in the league. Orlando Pirates coach- Ruud Krol had a feast of players to choose from and with no hesitation he did it well through out the whole season. Once he had his head nearly being chopped off but because of his passion and understanding for the game he managed to get over the pressure and he defeated all his critics. All the hard work he put in the team off the pitch really paid on the pitch. But the team let him down in a game they could have easily won. They could’ve been siting in 1^st place. And for their last encounter all they had to do was wait for the final whistle after 90 minutes. But it’s now gone and they have to win and hope the 1^st league position holders lose

So close, but yet so far!

Who thought the youngest team in the Absa Premiership would be sitting in 1^st place. All I can say about these boys is, what a team-What a game(s). Ajax Cape Town really gave all soccer lovers 29 great matches. Even though they lost and drew some matches the 18 games that they won really were unbelievable. The fast movement of the ball, the quick game play, the dribbles and the team play was all entertaining and phenomenal football. The team is today sitting on top spot and have to win to claim their prize. I believe it’s already theirs. I mean the original Absa Premiership trophy will be in Cape Town and it will be a home match against a team that is sitting in 12^th place.

Well done to the coach and the team for making life easier for themselves and making life hard for everyone else.

You deserve that trophy.

The chosen one...

He is the demolishers, the speedster, the defense destroyer, the magician, the general, and the master… He is the South African Messi, The goal-scoring hero. Who would it be either than Thualni Serero…

The Mapetla born star, started playing soccer in Soweto, until he got spotted to go to the Cape Town based team – Ajax. He began there at 13 playing in the development level, fighting his way up the football ladder to make it to 1^st team. And today he is not only in the Urban Warriors 1^st team, but he is a crucial player in the team, and he is only 20.

This star has picked up his game so much that he has gained national attention, as he is now part of the South African squad. This boy has scored crucial goals in the 2010/2011 league so far and he has also given defenders nightmare with his dazzling moves on the pitch.

He seems to always be in the right place, he seems to know where the ball is going to be, he is just a phenomenal player who definitely has a bright future ahead of him. This is a type of player we can expect seeing in the biggest leagues of the world, like the La Liga or Barclay’s premier league.

After Thulan Seroro went to Ajax Amsterdam, for tri outs, he came back not succeeding, but he did not lose hope. He also mentioned that, it is quite tough and physical overseas and that the players take practice very seriously.

After noticing how standards are high over sees, he vowed to himself that he is going to work even harder on the pitch and off it. And today we have proof that he has put an immense amount of hard work in himself.

He is what newspapers are talking about, he is what football fans are talking about. He is what national and international teams are wanting on their squads next season. He was what the national team needs.

He is Thulani Serero…

Big up boy, keep it up. This Article was just dedicated to you…

Well-done.

Talent doesn't discriminate so why should we?

We have a great democratic country, and that
makes our nation a true and diverse country.
But lets really be honest, on the soccer field, have we really been diverse or are we just making soccer a black sport.

Now I am a soccer player my self, and I know when I see a good soccer player, regardless of the colour, it doesn’t matter. If you have the skill then you are good enough to play.

But because of our unfortunate past should we keep on punishing the white or colored soccer players who are doing well.
We’ve come a long way with our soccer and to keep it growing and maintaining the standard. My concern is that there are too many white players that are being side lined probably because of their color for guys who are constantly on the pitch with minimum work rate and less discipline.

Bradley Grobler, a young and well working striker who just needs to be given a chance whether nationally or in the premier league, he is good enough to play but his sitting on the bench won’t do anyone justice. So he has just scored two goals in last weeks game, so what are we going to now put him on the bench and give an underprivileged black striker a chance to do the same thing.

David Somma, was noticed two weeks ago by South Africans, and by SAFA. Only when he scores 6 goals in 7 matches he is a South African soccer player. Maybe if he was black people would have spotted him along time ago. But he has played in Italy, USA and his playing in England for while now. Regardless of the league, being in the Football league championship (First division) I think he would have made a difference in our squad a couple of months ago during the world cup.

When I talk about Dillon Sheppard, I really feel like crying. This was one of South Africa’s most accurate and consistent left wingers, before the Daine Klates, Lerato Chabangu’s and the Siphiwe Tshabalala’s, he had everything he needed to be on the South Africa’s starting line up in the CAF nations cup and World Cup, but I really fear that if he was sidelined because of color, then how do we really spot talent.

I know he had a bad injury that hampered his career but the fact is he is that good enough of a player.
Matthew Pattison. First of all his work rate on the football pitch is unbelievable, he does very well to retrieve the ball and does well to create goal scoring chances on the pitch.
Many of you probably thought he is a Sundown’s development player, but do you know him From Newcastle FC, or even Norwich where he reined as a player. For the World Cup preparation he was given 15 minutes on the pitch against Mpumalanga, only 15 minutes, how are you going judge a player for in minutes. I think he should have been in the National team a long time ago and he Is a extraordinary player and I trust that he will be a favorite in eyes the South African fans.

There are a lot of players I can mention, Matthew Booth who just showed his face during the world Cup(A player who received player of the year awards in Russia as a defender).Mark Van Heerden, Darren Keet, Mark Arber, Stephan Armstrong, Cheyne Fowler ,Jonathan Greenfield. Who are really doing well for their teams.i just hope we are not waiting for another white talented soccer player to score 6 goals in 7 matches then we say he is South African and we should put him in the national team.

And don’t forget, we won the African nations cup with Neil Tovey, Eric Tinkler, Rodger De Sa,Mark Fish…

Guys who where white and doing well for our nation. And regarding what race you are, when you are playing for South Africa you really don’t want to be put in the squad because of a the color of you skin ,but the maturity of your skill.

I just hope we are not waiting for another white talented soccer player to score 6 goals in 7 matches then we say he is South African and we should put him in the national team.

This is my opinion; please feel free to comment….

Dumb, Dismal and Dull Decisions.

Soccer players sometimes seem to loose the plot. I mean the choices they make are often decisions that you can see they have not really put much thought into. You should realize that I am talking from an off the pitch perspective, because if we talk about the decisions they make on the field, that’s a whole new article by itself.

Maybe you haven’t got to understand what I am talking about, so let’s get into it. Daine Klate, an accurate, basic and effective product from the Super Sport United, decided to drop a league title winning team, who is in the CAF Champions league, a club that has less stars but the best team build up, a team that is coached by the one of the best coaches South Africa has. He left a team that fills up his soccer resume and went for a team that hasn’t opened the club cabinet for the past couple of years. How does a player do that? I mean don’t you want to increase your honors.

At Orlando Pirates there is unnecessary pressure, as they’re aren’t winning any silverware and they have way too many players in the position that Klate plays. So starting may be a problem, keeping his place in the starting 11 is another issue and Pirates play a different type of football compared to Super Sport United.

Another casualty suffering from wrong decision making illness is Thembinkosi “Terror” Fonteni. A phenomenal striker, who was doing well for South Africa and his team Maccabi Haifa. He managed to secure himself 44 appearances and 17 goals whist still in Israel. He then decides to come home, the year before the world cup so that he can “secure” himself a place in the 2010 South Africa world Cup Squad. What a decision. How do you come back from an international team that gives you game time, and your scoring goals, to a team like Pirates with so many “stars” and then hope to do well and end up in the SA squad. This was a dismal decision as Terror Fanteni only appeared 12 times in a Pirates jersey and only managed to get the ball at the back of the net once.

There are other dismal decisions we can talk about, like the Teko issue of saying “no” to a Newcastle United offer, in the 2008/2009 season or Jabu “Pule” Mahlangu, coming back home from helping a 1^st division team secure a place in the Swedish Premier League and the he leaves.

Like I always say, there are debatable issues about this article, but the fact is some of these decisions that these guys make are really are stupid and it shows no thought was put into making it. Till next week enjoy.