In this edition of Story Behind My Nickname former Swallows FC head coach Zeca Marques reveals the origin behind his unique nickname "Lollipop".
Who and where did you coach?
"For now, I'm focusing on the academies, I coached at Black Leopards, TTM [Tshakuma Tsha Madzhivhandila FC], Santos. But Swallows was the closest to my life, I stayed there longer. In 1999 and 2001."
What's your nickname?
"My nickname is Lollipop, technically what happened was I don't smoke. As coaches sometimes you get anxious and nervous you need something to calm you down, in those days most of my colleagues used to smoke on the bench.
"And I just thought you know what, maybe to calm me down, I should get a Lollipop. I just can't remember which game it was.
"And from then on, I started doing it in all other matches and that's how it started.
"It was only during games though, there's no pressure at training."
Who gave it to you and why?
"That was the supporters, definitely the supporters. Someone obviously started and then the journalists must have heard it. In the media, it was then written Zeca Marques the Lollipop. I remember I liked the fizzy lollipop, the one with sherbet inside, the green one, it is my favourite.When I had that lollipop in my mouth it got me more relaxed."
Did you like it?
"Absolutely ja I liked the nickname."
Is there anyone that didn't use it?
"No player ever used that name when talking to me, no one from the management either. It was just a media thing and the supporters. The management used to call me by my name.
"It was a nickname that was never used a training, or even by friends and family, only the supporters and the media did."
What would you want your nickname to be if you could relive it?
"I'm not one fond of nicknames, hey, it doesn't make a difference. As long as there's no insult it's fine. As long it is something funny [laughs].
Who should we ask for their nickname story?
"Bennet Chenene [laughs]. That would be a nice one. I don't think he had a nickname that one, which is the reason why I want him to tell us. I can't remember if he had one."