SHARPEVILLE.- Speaking Sedibeng Ster Sport, Makalakalane said that his ten years playing abroad is enough to share his experience with the youngsters and professional players on how to be successful as players in a foreign country, especially in Europe.
For starters, Makalakalane who played for Jomo Cosmos was the first South African player to play in Switzerland playing for FC Zurich and FC Baden. This was during the era when it was very rare for local players to play in Europe. However, later many South African players flocked abroad to persuade their football careers. This Sharpeville born former great, was part of Bafana Bafana who made history and won the 1996 African Cup Of Nations after South Africa was readmitted to the international sports arena. After retiring he coached Black Leopards in 2002 and he was also appointed Banyana Banyana coach at some point.
He was player assistant coach at Mamelodi Sundowns under the late Ted Dumitru and he is currently SAFA Coaches Instructor. Apart from football, Makalakalane is a qualified teacher by qualification after studied teaching at the then Sebokeng College of Education. Makalakal from his side. He told Sedibeng Ster Sport that there is a need for education in football for both amateur and professional players.
Makalakalane told Sedibeng Ster Sport that, he will start at school level and club level to share his playing experience with South African soccer players on what they can expect playing in Europe.
“I must be honest, it was and still is not easy to play in Europe hence some players would come back home after just a year playing abroad. I had to be strong and no one was there to babysit me but because I knew what I want in life I had to learn as quick as I could. These are some of the things that these players should know, that playing at that level comes with lot of sacrifices. Look, the language was not a big issue for me but it was difficult to adopt in the foreign country. There is so much I learned in my ten years playing in Switzerland which is what I am prepared to share with our youngsters and professional players. I must say, discipline is everything if you want to make it at that level. I don’t want these players to go through what I went through for ten years playing abroad, far away from home,” said ‘Mthakathi’ as he was well known in football circle during his playing days.
He told Sedibeng Ster Sport that to make this project a success, he will need everyone to come on board. Makalakalane said he will approach the Department of Sports and Recreation, Depart of Education, football structures, schools and local municipality to come on board.
