In this edition of In The Spotlight, KickOff speaks with former Orlando Pirates striker Bruce Ramokadi.
Ramokadi shares the names of two Premier Soccer League clubs he would join if he were still playing football.
Growing up, who was your idol?
"Ace Mnini and 'Beast' Seboko. The way they used to dribble was incredible; they were ahead of their time. What is being done overseas right now is not new to some of us. We've seen it before."
Were they the players you modeled your game on?
"Yes, they were. They dribbled to score, unlike the aimless dribbling we see nowadays, where players often end up on their knees."
Who is your favourite player in the Premier Soccer League at the moment?
"Teboho Mokoena. He is very cool, calm, and consistently performs well. He is not flamboyant."
Who is your best friend in football?
"Bernard Lushozi is the person I spent the most time with. He taught me the importance of education. Even now, we still communicate. While at Pirates, I took my school books to camp."
What is your favourite PSL club?
"Growing up, everyone in my household was a Pirates fan, so I followed suit. However, in the beginning, I was a Moroka Swallows fan."
If you could be younger again and have the opportunity to join a PSL club of your choice, which club would it be?
"I'd choose Mamelodi Sundowns; if not, then Orlando Pirates. They play a style of football that is pleasing to the paying customers—they play offensively."
Is there anything you dislike about football?
"I dislike the fact that there is no retirement package in football. In rugby and cricket, there are retirement funds available, but in football, retiring often leads to poverty. It’s not easy to save money while still playing since you have a life to live. You can’t save if there’s not much to save."
The reason you became a professional footballer, was it for money or passion?
"For me, it was about passion. I grew up in a football-loving family."
