In this edition of Locker Room Secrets, KickOff catches up with former Bidvest Wits FC, AmaZulu FC and Ajax Cape Town player Sifiso Vilakazi.
Who was always late?
"Thando Mngomeni at Wits. He was always late. That one I don't think he owned a watch. His excuse was waking up late."
Any interesting ritual before every match?
"I used to pray. Even today I still believe in prayer. Mostly we prayed together as a team."
Who was the jokester?
"Nhlanhla Shabalala at Ajax Cape Town. He had lot of stories that one, he was always funny. He could mimic coaches the way they spoke, and the way they walked."
In all the clubs you played for, which club were the biggest believers in muti?
"That's obvious. AmaZulu. Those were days of Roger Palmgren, he was assisted by Fani Madida, those were our coaches.
"They would bath us, kushunqiswa, smear muti in our soccerboots...there was a lot at that club [laughs].
"I remember the day Kaizer Chiefs beat us 6-0, I think Bernard Parker scored four goals that day. After the match the muti man blamed the players saying some of us failed to follow instructions. He even accused one of our teammates of having been with a woman a day before the match.
"I remember on the eve of the match we were woken up in the middle of the night and told to bath. All that didn't help us. Chiefs beat us 6-0 still."
Who was the singer?
"I will give this one to Chilendze from Zambia, he was my teammate at Free State Stars. He would teach us Zambian songs."
Who was the best-and worst-dressed?
"I'd choose Stanton Freddericks as the best-dressed. He knew how to match clothes.
"The worst-dressed was Timothy Batabaire. He was always in his traditional African outfits."
Who never showered?
"Sifiso Myeni. He was just like Mfundo Shumana at Ajax Cape Town. He never entered the changeroom at the same time as us. We couldn't understand if he preferred bathing at home or it was his ritual. A lot is happening in football."
Which coach you gave you the best team talk?
"Roger De Sa he was like a father to the team at Wits. He was calm, he knew how to make even the older players feel fresh."
