In this edition of Locker Room Secrets, KickOff catches up with former Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows winger, Bennett Chenene.
Who was always late?
"Innocent Mdledle at Orlando Pirates was notoriously late. I'm not sure if it was because he was out drinking late or what, but he often forgot he had to report for training. We all used to drink, but Mdledle's alcohol always made him to be behind schedule.
"I recall one time when the Pirates team bus almost left without him while he was still sleeping in the hotel in Bloemfontein. We had to go back to his room to look for him, we quickly grabbed his things, and rushed him to the bus. He ended up traveling back to Johannesburg without even taking a shower."
Any interesting rituals before a game?
"I would visit an inyanga before every match to get something for the game. In fact, the whole team was doing it. Some of my teammates would even bring their muti to the hotel.
"Some would bathe so quickly that you could tell there something helping them clean themselves [laughs]. It was definitely not the usual way of bathing. Ububona nje ukuthi lo muntu lo ugezwa yimpundulu lo."
Who was the jokester?
"Josephy Kamwendo. He seemed quiet on the surface, but behind the scenes, he was quite the character. He always had me in stitches when he tried to speak IsiZulu."
Was it a muti change room?
"I can say that in all the teams I played for, there was definitely a belief in that."
Who was the singer?
"The late Senzo Meyiwa. He usually sang struggle songs."
Who was the best- and worst-dressed?
"Teko Modise was the best dressed at Pirates, and I was the second best. The worst dressed was Lucas Twala. Ubegqoka njengo baba [He dressed like an old man]."
Who never showered?
"Gerald Modabi was known for not showering. He would arrive at work without having bathed and would leave the same way. We didn't mind, as it's not easy to ask someone why they haven't taken a shower."
Which coach gave the best team talks?
"Zeca Marques at Swallows. He was a man of few words, and his team talks would go like, 'Hey, guys, you know what you need to do. Go out there and give it your all. Nibadala uma ningaka'. We would go on to perform exceptionally well, and people would praise him for it, not realising that he simply gave us confidence with his jokes [laughs]. That's why that Swallows team performed so well, despite us all being a bit older."