In this edition of Locker Room Secrets, former Moroka Swallows full-back Peter Petersen, reveals how things were in the change room under the watchful eye of Viktor Bondarenko.
Petersen says the Swallows dressing room was the best compared to the other clubs he played for.
What was special about the Swallows change room?
"There was happiness and lots of characters. You had crazy guys there. Jokhonia Cibi, George Lekgetho, Naughty [Mokoena]... Ja nee, they were all crazy."
Who was always late?
"It was the goalkeepers, Wendell Robinson and Jorge Fernandes. Bondarenko used to tell them as goalkeepers they are too used to sleeping both on the pitch and off the pitch [laughs]. There was a lot funny stuff in that Swallows team, some of the players were driving the buses [laughs]."
Any ritual before a match?
"Personally, I would step into the pitch with my right foot first, and always try to be the first one to touch the ball."
Who was the jokester?
"It was Samuel 'See' Ngobeni. He was never serious, even though the joke was boring but the way he used to tell it made you laugh. He was always joking."
Was it a muti changeroom?
"It was a mixed bag. But you know some stuff need to stay there in the changeroom, or our kit manager Bra Junior and Swallows supporters will come for me [laughs]."
Who was the singer?
"Ace Ntsoelengoe [Molefe] was a good singer."
Who was the best dressed?
"Ntsoelengoe, even Big Six [Peter Rabolele], Junaid Hartley also he wasn't far off."
And the worst dressed?
"George Lekgetho. He would come dressed in whatever [laughs]."
Who never showered?
"That's a difficult one because in our time we used to travel together, get to town, buy some coffee and magwinya and head home [laughs], so I can't think of a shower guy."
The coach that gave you the best team talks at Swallows?
"Bondarenko he always came up with some stories [laughs], one day he almost took our names off the team sheet for 'smiling too much' [laughs], he is so crazy.
"I remember we had our pre-match meal, and me and Abram Isaks we had a good laugh about something. And Bondarenko stood and pointed at us saying, 'You two, in my room immediately, you finish eating!'
"And when we went into his hotel room, it was like he wanted to kill us. He was busy shouting 'Why are you smiling too much? On game day you must be angry!'
"Bondarenko he knew how to get the best out of us."
