In this edition of Where Are They Now, KickOff catches up with former Kaizer Chiefs player Johannes "Disco" Phadime.
Phadime, who played for Amakhosi in the 1990s, reveals what led to their famous 3-1 loss to AmaZulu FC in the 1992 Coca-Cola Cup final at FNB Stadium.
Where did it all start for Johannes Phadime?
"I started playing professionally at the age of 15 in 1985 at Bloemfontein Celtic, where I spent five years. I then played for Kaizer Chiefs for five years and Manning Rangers for another five years."
Are you happy with your playing days?
"I played my football to the fullest. I faced teams like Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur, and Zamalek; football took me to amazing places. I was with Kaizer Chiefs from 1990 to 1995.
"However, I decided to step away from playing after being denied a move to Turkey by Manning Rangers. There was an offer for me and Pollen Ndlanya, but Solomon Ndimande and Clinton Larsen were placed ahead of me instead. In the end, only Pollen was signed."
What was your biggest highlight in your football career?
"My equalising goal in the 1992 Coca-Cola Cup stands out, along with the semi-final match where the coach introduced me and Tshepo Molatedi, and we overturned a 2-0 deficit against Pirates to win 3-2 in just 20 minutes.
"The loss in the final was partly due to our dissatisfaction with the bonuses the club had offered if we won the cup. What Chiefs proposed was simply too little."
Did you make money from football?
"Football didn’t make me any money. Not a cent. But it did give me an education. With every team I joined, I ensured we had an agreement for them to fund my education."
How has life been after hanging up your soccer boots?
"Since I’m no longer famous, people started to forget about me. Some even began to undermine me, criticizing and pointing fingers. But I understood; that's life. That’s when I started getting into coaching. I'm currently focused on developing young players and I hold a SAFA D license."
Where are you living now?
"I’m living in Ratanda, Heidelberg, with my children. I’m currently coaching football at a school."
What other jobs have you done after stopping playing?
"I had to work for the local municipality, which helped me balance my life again. I also took coaching courses, which contributed to my career as a coach today. Working at the municipality allowed me to pay for those coaching courses. I even coached at Mpumalanga Black Aces for two and a half years."
If you could do it all again, would you?
"Fortunately, I didn’t make any major mistakes. I ended up playing alongside my idol, Teenage Dladla, who brought me to Kaizer Chiefs. My only regret is what happened at Manning Rangers when they denied me the chance to move overseas."
Photo by Gallo Images
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