The long-standing debate on what could have become of Mbulelo 'OJ' Mabizela had his lifestyle choices been different will forever linger with memories of just how gracious a defender he was still vivid to this day.
So good was Mabizela that he was already captaining Orlando Pirates to the league title aged just 22 before he completed a trailblazing move to the English Premiership with Tottenham Hotspur.
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His many teammates who graced the pitch with the gifted defender admired Mabizela's many qualities.
"For reading the game and timeous tackles it has to be OJ and the plus about him is that he could rough it out as well when the circumstances needed him to do so," notes Boitumelo Moleyane who played with OJ at Pirates when lifting a league title in the 2002/03 season.
Moleyane came through from Bloemfontein Young Tigers along Khumbulani Konco at the start of the 2002/03 season when Phumudzo Manenzhe and Gift Leremi were also promoted from the club's feeder team while Jimmy Tau came from Maritzburg City.
The other new arrivals at Pirates in that window were Eddie Dinha, Bheka Phakathi (late), Sibusiso Mazibuko, Thapelo Liau, Lucky Lekgwathi, Goodman Mazibuko, Hleza Mofedi, Michel Babale, Jimmy Kauleza, and Abednego Netshiozwi.
Yet the standout performer was a guy who had been 21 at the start of the season.
"You never wanted that kind of defender (like Mabizela) close to you and always had to make sure that you create a two steps space before you receive the ball.
"That way it would enable you to read the situation better and help you create space to either turn or play with your midfielders and get a through pass afterwards.
"Those are things you needed to do with defenders that are either organised or go in hard.
"You had to try to play less touches so that you have less of the ball so that he wouldn't get a chance to tackle.
"Old John was a quiet guy.
"He would get to make you feel his presence in a 50/50 by tackling you hard.
"But in terms of trash talking he wasn't like that.
"He went about his business quietly and that I know from being his teammate as well.
"With the other defenders, they would try to get on your nerves by saying nasty things to set you off a bit which meant you needed to develop a thick skull.
"In that case you had to develop a defensive mechanism of ignoring otherwise if you let it get into your head then you would react and get a red card.
"Cyril Nzama didn't trash talk but used to make funny comments and if you are not up to it then he would get into your head.
"Being new in the PSL at the time he would ask you 'so, where the hell did they get you'.
"That was when you would know you are doing something right otherwise, they wouldn't pay attention to you.
"In football it is important to be strong-minded because other players ride on your mental strength and if you are weak, you become an easy customer for red cards.
"You need to learn to brush it off and focus on what you must do.
"As long as your first touch is on point then your confidence grows.
"It is the same with some of the nasty things that can be said to you by fans, you need to remain calm instead of playing to prove them wrong.
"There is always a need to avoid getting angry.
"You need to understand that you don't control what people say but can control yourself," says Moleyane singling out Jomo Cosmos for rough tacklers.
"Then for a dosage of hard tackles, elbows, and rough play you needed to look no further than the Jono Cosmos.
"I still have memories of receiving an elbow from one of their defenders because that is how ugly it got against them.
"They were about intimidating and kicking the hell out of you," says Moleyane who went on to play for BidVest Wits, FC AK, and Mpumalanga Black Aces before calling it quits in 2009.
Moleyane – who turns 43 this year – now has an office job having acquired a BTEch in Marketing before his PSL break.
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