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| South Africa's Vieira: Legohonolo Maselesa |
Legohonolo Maselesa is not your ordinary 20-year-old. The
former South African Under 17 captain is rapidly proving that as he settles in
to the Orlando Pirates squad with uncommon calm.
Forced to replace Andile Jali early in the Buccaneers’ 3-0
win against Egyptian giants Zamalek last Saturday, his coach Roger de Sa said
simply: “Maselesa looked like he’d been playing in the African Champions League
all his life.”
Now Maselesa faces his first Soweto derby – the MTN8 semi-final
against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday is getting close to a sell-out – insisting he
is ready for the 90,000 baying fans.
Perhaps better known as Vieira – after the former France
World Cup winning midfielder Patrick – Maselesa explains: “I was playing for an
academy in Joburg, Afrika Sports, when they started calling me Vieira. I was 12
at the time, back in 2004. Every since then, I’ve been Vieira.
“As a footballer you have to be prepared to come on at any
moment. When Andile went down injured, I can’t really say I was nervous, there
was the TP Mazembe game, that may have been harder than Zamalek!”
So is he living the dream following his move from Bidvest Wits last year? “I can’t really say that this is
the dream, I still hope things get better from here! Obviously, as a young boy it
IS a dream to play for Pirates, it doesn’t happen to everyone. For me to be
here is an honour, a privilege.
“But I can’t say I’ve arrived, I still have to push myself.”
And playing for De Sa? “Roger for me, because I worked with
him before at Wits, is everything in one. I’m not trying to say things that he’s
not. But he can be that leader, put the foot down. But when it’s time to joke
around he can do that too.
“He’s all in one, serious guy, funny guy, all in one.”
In a football world where coaches are fiercely protective of
their young stars – Sir Alex Ferguson never let Ryan Giggs or David Beckham
near a microphone until they were in their mid-20s – “Vieira” is able to give
us a unique glimpse in to the pressures of breaking in to the professional
ranks.
When I asked about the pressure, the problems of super-stardom, his answer was spot on.
When I asked about the pressure, the problems of super-stardom, his answer was spot on.
“I come from a very humble background, it’s easy to keep my
feet on the ground. I have people around me who criticise me a lot. They give
me a call and give me a bit of stick for my performances!
“It’s never like I get good reviews. People might say I’m
playing well but when I get home it’s a different story, the people who really
matter and give me advice, never tell me I’m the finished article.
“To be honest I feel amazing. It’s not every child who gets
to play for Pirates and for me that’s no pressure. Every day I learn different
things, I learn and I play better.
“I’m from Turfloop near Polokwane – I don’t know
who said I was from Alexandra. I’d like to believe most great footballers come
from Limpopo! There is a huge amount of talent coming from the north.
“I’m not a physio, I can’t tell you if Andile Jali will be
fit for Saturday. But this will be my first Soweto derby. If it happens, I’ll
be willing to give my best and hopefully, to earn a good result. But anything
can happen!
“My biggest crowd before this was 50,000 when we played
Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final in 2011 and lost 3-1. This will be my biggest
crowd ever.
So how will the huge gathering affect him? Can he shut it
out or will it inspire? “I played then and only about 1,000 of the crowd were
supporting Wits, this time about half of them will be supporting me, at the
stadium and millions on the television. I can only get fired up you know!”
You can also follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol for all the latest sports news… and read my “Neal & Pray” column every Tuesday inwww.thenewage.co.za.
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