In this edition of In The Spotlight, former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Dan Semake reveals to KickOff the one aspect he dislikes about the beautiful game.
Growing up, who was your role model?
"My role model was my father because he played the game. He was a left-footed midfielder for Vosloorus United. Back then, I loved watching Orlando Pirates games on television, and my favorite player was Botsotso Makhanya.
Did you model your game after those two players?
"Not exactly. They don’t play like me, even though they are my role models."
Who is your favorite player in the PSL right now?
"To me, nobody has dethroned Mshishi [Themba Zwane] yet. His injury was a significant setback, and age is catching up with him. Players like Mohau Nkota and Relebohile Mofokeng still have a long way to go."
Who is your best friend in football?
"I have about five best friends, all of whom I played with at Sundowns. Lucky Xaba, Isaac Shai, Sibongakonke Ndlovu, and Manqoba Ngwenya. To this day, we still share advice with each other."
What is your favorite club?
"Growing up, I was a Buccaneer, but now I’m a Sandawana. I used to be part of the Pirates development team during Ted Dumitru’s time when they were still forming their youth teams. When Ted left for Sundowns, he took some of us with him."
If you could join any club as a player, which club would it be?
"Mamelodi Sundowns. If you want to win trophies, join Sundowns. No player wants to retire without any silverware."
Is there anything you dislike about football?
"I dislike that some coaches in the PSL have their favorite players and continue to play them even when they aren’t performing."
Which referee did you have a soft spot for?
"Ian McCleod. That old man was very strict and never changed his mind. His officiating was exceptional.
"But I can't say the same for other referees. I remember one referee during the BobSave SuperBowl final when we were leading Kaizer Chiefs. He added nine minutes of stoppage time, and as soon as Cyril Nzama equalized for Chiefs with a header, the final whistle blew, and they went on to beat us in penalties."