Tshepang Mailwane: Hi, Ntsikelelo. How has life been as a foot-baller with the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus?
Ntsikelelo Nyauza: It’s something we are not used to. It’s a bit difficult for us because it kills the momentum, knowing that we were supposed to play against Sundowns (on March 17). It killed the momentum and the mind switches off, knowing that the games have been postponed. But, all in all, we are still going to train to keep fit for the seven games. Things have stopped in Italy, things have stopped in Spain and things have also stopped here at home. It’s killed our momentum a bit because we were at our peak, but we will see how things go.
TM: How much were you looking forward to that big one against Sundowns?
NN: We were prepared for that one. We had rest, but they did not have rest because they had games in-between, so we had planned that when we played against them we were going to use all our energy. They had run out of energy because of the games they have been playing, so we were very prepared for that game, hence I am saying this has killed our momentum.
TM: So, you felt it was the right time to play against them?
NN: Yes, true. Because we had enough rest. We didn’t have games, so hence I say the outbreak has killed the momentum that we had.
TM: How much time did you get to be at home as players?
NN: They’ve been giving us off days in-between. We train and then they give us off. We train, but we are not consistent with our training schedule.
TM: How disciplined do you need to be as a player to train on your own at home?
NN: As a player, you need to be disciplined and focused. We’ve got seven games left in the season and we still do have a chance (in the title race). There’s a bit of a chance for us to win the league, so it needs you as a player to be professional about your career and yourself. You need to stay home, stay clean, stay with your family, do your extra work at home and stay healthy, so that when we bounce back, we are ready for the seven remaining games. It’s about being professional at the end of the day. We get a program to work on your core, to work on a bit of cycling and some work on the treadmill. It’s just for your muscles to stay activated, so it’s not something hectic.
TM: Let’s focus a bit on your season. You’ve had the opportunity to captain the team three times this season. How would you describe the feeling?
NN: It was a big surprise and I was very honoured to wear the armband for a big club like Orlando Pirates. I never thought I’d get to that point in my life. But when the coach (Rhulani Mokwena) told me that Happy (Jele) was suspended and that based on my personality and experience they would love to give me the captain’s armband, it came as a shock. As a senior player in the team, I had to take the responsibility on my shoulders and lead the team. It was a hard experience. The first two games were hard, but when we won the third game, I felt that being a captain needs time, especially at a club as big as Pirates. It’s not something you achieve overnight. It needs experience on its own as well.
TM: What made you feel like you were ready to take on the role in Jele’s absence?
NN: I knew that there are some younger players in the team that need the guidance and leadership. When I say something, they are going to listen because they know that I also had leaders in the past, like Lucky Lekgwathi and Siyabonga Sangweni. So, I was young just like them, getting guidance from the senior guys in the team. I would listen to my senior players. So, now as a senior player, I had to take the responsibility so that when I lead and command, they will take the instruction and information from me as a senior player.
TM: Did it mean much more to wear the armband in the Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs, in the first half of the season?
NN: Eish, wearing it in the derby for the first time was so big. It was a big occasion. I mean, even if you are not wearing the armband and you are playing in the derby for the first time, you always have goosebumps. You can even ask the guys who play for Kaizer Chiefs. So, wearing the armband on such a big occasion, you know that you have a big responsibility on your shoulders. It was quite an experience for me, wearing the armband for the first time in a derby.
TM: Is it a role you’d be happy to take on regularly given the opportunity in future?
NN: Yes, I would not mind. I would take it as a senior player in the team. I am experienced and I would take it if it were to get to that point. I would not be a coward and say, ‘No, no.’ As a leader and experienced player in the team, you have to do it. You are doing it for the badge, you are doing it for the club, you are doing it for your colleagues. It would not be about me as an individual; it would be about the club.
TM: What have you learnt from Jele as captain and central defence partner?
NN: Happy Jele has come a long way here at Pirates to get to where he is, to get the captain’s armband. He also learnt from his elders such as Lekgwathi and Sangweni. I also got here and I am learning from him as an elder, so that when I get to that point where I am needed to lead the team, then he would What have you learnt from Jele as captain and central defence partner?
NN: Happy Jele has come a long way here at Pirates to get to where he is, to get the captain’s armband. He also learnt from his elders such as Lekgwathi and Sangweni. I also got here and I am learning from him as an elder, so that when I get to that point where I am needed to lead the team, then he would a lot of injuries, so I could not play the amount of games I expected to play. I had a hamstring injury and I had a problem with my Achilles. This season I worked on preventing my injuries, like having extra sessions with my personal trainer, to make sure I prevent injuries. The things I didn’t do last season, I am doing this season – that’s why there’s an improvement in me playing more games and getting less injuries.
TM: We’ve seen you play at right back for most of your time at
Orlando Pirates, but seem to now have found a home in central defence…
NN: I’ve played central defence before, when I was playing at Africa Sports Academy during my development days under (Harold) Jazzy Queen. I also played there when I was playing for the national U20 team, so I am familiar with the position. That’s why when I am needed to play there, I play. When they say play right back, I play. When they say play central midfield, I play. It’s important as a player to be versatile. You have to be professional and do what the coach wants you to do. In Europe, you find that players are played in different positions, because they’ve got a strong mindset. They can do whatever they are asked to do.
TM: Where do you prefer playing most?
NN: I’d say it’s centre-back, because I grew up playing in that position. I know that position better than other positions. I’ve mastered it more compared to right back and central midfield.
TM: After finishing second on the standings in the previous two seasons, what was the expectation from the team coming into this campaign?
NN: As a team, we expected a lot. We had high hopes of winning silverware, looking at the fact that we finished second in the previous two seasons. So, we had high hopes that we would win something. Unfortunately, things have not gone the way we expected this season. But that happens in life, where you expect but don’t get (what you hope for).
TM: What are your chances of winning the league title this season, assuming the league gets back up and running?
NN: My brother, I’ll be honest with you. It’s hard in this league. You also can’t count your chickens before they hatch. You can’t say things will go this way or that way. We are taking each game as it comes and we are focusing on our game. We are not focusing on what’s happening in the number one position or the number two position. We don’t focus on that. We are focusing on the games we have left. You’ll never know what happens in the end. We are taking it one game at a time.
TM: Do you think things would have gone a lot smoother had coach Milutin Sredojevic not left early in the season?
NN: Yes, you are right. That played a role, whereby the leader and father of the team is gone and you have to start afresh. It also distracts the momentum of the team. But, looking at where we come from and where we are now (third on the log), I would say I am impressed. We have to clap hands for the hard work and dedication we have shown as a players and the technical team. We have done well to be where we are right now. People didn’t have faith, but we have installed faith into them.
TM: What changed from the first half of the season?
NN: Coach Rhulani (Mokwena) is a good coach and he knows his job, but I think it was too early for him to be the head coach. It’s like what I was saying about me being a captain. Remember in the first two games, we lost both. I was not as experienced with the armband. But when we moved onto the third game, we won. I just think it was that timing of being a head coach during a big occasion. It was a little bit shaky for us in the first half of the season when he was in charge, but I believe he is a good coach all in all. We got decent results… it’s just that it’s luck. Sometimes as a coach, you need that luck to win. But he is a top coach. It’s just that he was unfortunate and it happens. Our new coach (Josef Zinnbauer) is from Germany and did not know much about South African football. He came on board and he started winning, even though he does not know the players from South Africa. He knew how to manage the players, he read the players’ minds and read the players’ mood and said, ‘This is what is needed for this club to win (games).’ He did not change a lot. He just added a few things, put the cherry on top and the team came out of its shell. The team started winning. It’s very important, to manage a big team like Pirates. It plays an important role.
TM: Sure…
NN: As a big team like Pirates, we told ourselves that we didn’t deserve to be where we were. We as players wanted to be where we are right now, so we had to put in the hard work. We are a quality team, we are a big club, so we couldn’t be there in the position we were in. We had to pull up our socks and get to where we are now. Because of our dedication and hard work, we moved higher on the table.
TM: What do foreign coaches need to settle in quickly when they come to the Absa Premiership for the first time, as in the case of coach Zinnbauer?
NN: As a foreign coach, you need a South African assistant, so that he can help you. An assistant coach from South Africa plays an important role. The assistant can analyse opposition teams and tell the coach the profiles from players at Golden Arrows, Sundowns or Chiefs. He would be able to tell the coach how teams play, and this is very important. The coach obviously does not know because he is from Germany, so he would want to know the ins and outs of South African football. So, as time goes, he would know how to execute his plans and strategies.
TM: So Fadlu Davids has played a big role in helping Zinnbauer in this regard?
NN: Perfect, perfect, perfect. He has played that role.
TM: How important is it for the club to return to the CAF Champions League?
NN: That’s the other thing that’s in our minds as players and the technical team. We should, at least, fight to be back in the Champions League. It’s where Pirates belongs. Teams on the continent will be surprised when they see Pirates is not in the Champions League. Every season, Pirates l should be number one or two so that we can go compete on the continent. That’s what we told ourselves as players. We need to be back (there), no matter what.
TM: And what would you need to do differently next time you are in the competition?
NN: Next time we need to fight to get a point when you are playing away. It’s very hard to fight for a win when you are away. And we need to make sure that we don’t concede when we play at home, because it counts as two goals when you concede at home (during knockout phases of the competition). In the last two editions, we were focusing more on our strategy and play. We didn’t focus on making sure that we get a draw and don’t concede and we win when we play at home. We focused more on our style of play.
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