In this edition of Negotiating Behind The Scenes, a former footballer from KwaZulu-Natal shares a hilarious story about how his teammate was caught stealing the club chairman's wallet multiple times.
Sipho Zimba, a former goalkeeper for Durban Bush Bucks FC in the 1980s, leaves KickOff readers in stitches as he holds nothing back in this interview.
Zimba was in his twenties and still in high school, completing Grade 12, when he got his break in football in the old Zambuk League, now known as the Motsepe Foundation Championship, in 1981.
The former shot-stopper also played in the NPSL and the NSL when the league was still led by George Thabe and Cyril Kobus and even earned the title of Vaseline Youngest Goalkeeper of the Year at one point.
Did you have any rituals you performed before every match?
"I would burn impepho for my ancestors and plead with them to watch over me. I used to pray to my ancestors before each game. I remember hearing that the late former AmaZulu goalkeeper Shadrack Biemba would stand with what he called a 12th player in goal—a second, invisible goalkeeper, especially for the referees. So, I felt like I had to protect myself [laughs]."
Who was always late?
"There was a guy named Doli Nqetho from KwaMashu, may his soul rest in peace. He was a great player but always late. Remember those days when we used to take trains to training? I recall that Doli would score a goal and then run to the sidelines to hug the club chairman. During those hugs, he would slip his hand into the chairman's jacket and steal his wallet. He would quickly hide the wallet in his private parts without anyone noticing and then return to play. Can you imagine playing with a wallet tucked in your underwear?
"I think he managed that trick twice before he was caught during a match against Bloemfontein Celtic at Princess Magogo Stadium. After scoring a goal in that third match against Celtic, he tried to run to the chairman again, but the chairman yelled, 'No, stand there! Don't come to me!' [Laughs]."
Who was the jokester?
"Mlungisi 'Professor' Ngubane was the biggest jokester. He would even dance for us in the changing room and always lifted our spirits in the Durban Bush Bucks environment."
Who was the singer?
"Nkosini Kabasa Ncube, may his soul rest in peace. He was a fantastic singer."
Who was the best dressed?
"Proff. Ngubane was the best dressed. He had a hippie style and drove a nice car like a true professor."
And the worst dressed?
"Leonard Nxele, may his soul rest in peace. He was quite clumsy in his fashion choices."
Who never showered?
"Arthur Simelane [laughs]. May his soul rest in peace as well. He had a bit of a problem when it came to bathing."
Which coach gave you the best team talk?
"The thing is, during our time, we often coached ourselves more than anything. There wasn’t much match analysis or anything like that. I remember one game against AmaZulu where I tried to save a ball but missed it, and one of my teammates almost killed me for that."