Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘em -William Shakespeare
Full names: Augustine Thabo
Surname: Makalakalane
DOB: 15 September 1963
Former clubs played for: Sharpeville Pirates FC (amateur), Blue Bells FC, Vaal Professionals FC, Jomo Cosmos FC, FC Zurich, FC Baden (both Switzerland), Mamelodi Sundowns FC.
Former clubs Coached: Vaal University of Technology, Black Leopards FC, University of Johannesburg, Banyana Banyana (South African Women’s National team), North West University Mafikeng Soccer Institute.
Qualifications: Diploma in Education, Diploma in Sports Sciences, Diploma in Sports Management, International Preliminary Coaching Diploma(inclusive of Goalkeeper Coaching Course), FIFA Futuro I, II, III, SAFA Level I, II, III.
I meet up with the legendary former Bafana Bafana midfielder Augustine Makalakalane, he was South Africa’s first black football player export abroad of the ’90s era, thus paving the way for an influx of South African players including the legendary duo of Lucas Radebe & Philemon Masinga, to play in Europe in years that followed. The appointment occurs at the home of one of his coaching prodigy’s. Chairs are nicely placed outside as we sit with our backs facing the sun, so as to enjoy the rays of the big hot ball given the winter season has faded, what follows is the tale of Mthakhathi as his affectionately known in the football fraternity, take your time & let your eyes roll as this is his story…
Early years in Vuka section, Sharpeville…
In many black townships in the late 1980’s to the period prior, due to the restrictive untenable apartheid laws, the black populace could only find solace through football, music & drama plays famously known as “Sketch”. In Sharpeville, Vuka section a future international player was part of the local group of boys often playing football in the dusty streets, given the black populace was under restriction this meant they came to only know about sport through football. “Football for us was bread & butter, it was a part us, a culture, a way of life. It was a social pastime from the elders knocking off from work to us the young after school” Augustine Makalakalane firmly points out. The black child could only afford the round ball as their toy back then, it was not only the cheapest but the most safe & convenient tool a black child could be found with. On how the football bug caught him, Augustine reflects “My father was a footballer in what was the Industrial League(a league for for industrial companies), he was employed at a company called Steelwork, so whenever he came back, he would bring his football kit & I was always tasked in washing his football boots. My brother was also a footballer but never made it professional, so I would imagine myself in my father’s kit & football was in the family so that motivated me more especially when I came across his kits”.
Highly motivated & often plying their football for many hours on end, the move to organised football was propelled by Augustine & his group of mates through their constant excited screams of “pasa, pasa, pasa” (translates as pass), as they participated in streets knockout football known as one pole(with a brick being used as the goalpost). “Our move from one-pal(pole) came about due to the noise we generated because of our passion, so we often played in front of a Correctional Officer’s house Ntate Tau, but the problem was that he mostly worked night shift so out of frustration of our noise disturbance his solution was the purchasing of a soccer ball, so as to fend us off to a distant place to allow for him to get his well-deserved rest”. The tale of the soccer ball heralded a renewed hope for the Vuka boys in that they even cleaned up the nearby spot (present day informal settlement Phuma Sbhethane) which had become a place of dumping, so determined they soon had a standard replica of a football field but the gravel version of it. Once the field was there, the black youth began a revolution, every street gave birth to a team, Mthakathi was soon plying his trade for Happy Stars from Lehoko Street, whilst the other teams of the time were Jumpers, Mighty Blues, Rangers & close to 20 other teams. This emergence of teams soon saw a host of organisation, “In football we have levels, so the new teams had to start somewhere there was a field known as ditapoleng (meaning potatoes) it was sort of initiation (he laughs) then there was the ditamatie (meaning tomatoes) field then ultimately the A-ground where well established talented players were playing. This newfound football would last for a year, later as conditions became worse life reached a standstill as the struggle riots affected the normal yet abnormal situation in the region & entire country. Augustine being a student at the time, was taken under the guidance of legendary Raynold Muller & subsequently played for Blue Bells in festival tournaments then one year in the Federation League.
Journey to greatness begins…
Legendary former Kaizer Chiefs FC defender & a son of the Vaal Triangle, Simon ‘Bull’ Lehoko approached Augustine to come join his project as he assembled some of the great players in the Vaal Triangle to rebuild Vaal Professionals FC with Johannes “Man” Direro and 10 other players from Real X20. The team boasted an array of quality players like the coloured duo, the late Neil Jansen & Patrick Louw, though the apartheid regime was gradually in a state of demise, the masses still had to be careful more so at Vaal Professionals in particular a player like Patrick Louw, who had to use the alias of King Mohlakoane due to the apartheid’s group areas act law. The year 1985 saw the biggest South African football fraternity spilt when the then National Professional Soccer League club’s demanded that the late Ntate George Thabe to resign given that he could not serve as chairman of both the NPSL & the then National Football Association (Sanfa). A declaration of independence by the Castle League clubs as well as the the support of then NPSL general-secretary Cyril Kobus for the breakaway league between January 31 & February 1 1985 would subsequently see the resignation by Ntate Thabe as chairman of the NPSL on February 10 with him proclaiming “It was to try & restore unity in South African soccer”. By 19 February ’85 a new titled National Soccer League is formally constituted with the Castle League made up of 18 clubs. March 6 saw Ntate Thabe fight back & claim that the NPSL would continue with 18 clubs. This saw a number of clubs have their namesakes & its players join teams of the NPSL, notable examples were the late Ace Ntsoelengoe leave Chiefs to form his own team in the NPSL called Ace Mates, Ace Mnini would leave the real Swallows & join the NPSL version The Birds.
This split did affect the players immensely as the NSL & NPSL were a complete opposite. One league had the full kit & sponsors, whilst the had little to nothing. One league had the majority TV rights & the other had to settle for crumbs. There was even a time when the broadcasters screened both league on one channel in half screen, whilst halftime would see the Castle League’ Abdul Bhamjee entertain viewers prompting callers at home to give more time to the Castle League. In 1987 whilst watching Chiefs play & Teenage Dladla mesmerising opponents in the Castle League, Mthakathi was grew tired of the NPSL given they had not been paid & believe he could play & compete in the Castle League. Education remained key & during this time Mthakathi was enrolled at college pursuing a Diploma in Education. The last game of the NPSL season came & went, players of Vaal Professionals FC were promised a post season ceremony were they would receive lunch boxes & R1000-00. Mthakathi attended the ceremony but left early on as the Castle League champions Cosmos were conducting trials in Primrose on the same day. Mthakathi arrived at the trials accompanied by teammate Mabena ‘Love’ Monnakgotla, they found about 19 teams in action & it became difficult to participate but they did, held their own & subsequently were shortlisted for more assessments on Monday.
Exit Vaal Pros, Enter Jomo Cosmos…
Having attended the trials on a Saturday, on Sunday he had the task of heading to the leadership of Vaal Pros to go collect his lunchbox & R1000-00. Now Vaal Pros was legendary Bull Lehoko’s baby helped by many of the townships elders & businessman. In particular Ntate Steve, who owned a fleet of minibus who often donated with groceries, Dr.Mogkhesi who had a surgey & assisted with players injuries & a butcher by the name of Ntate Mokgethi who would supply meat. Mthakathi a staunch Roman Catholic, straight after church went to the butchery to go collect his lunch box from the elders. He entered the butchery his jolly self & came across the doctor first who he greeted & the doctor quickly responded. At the far end of the butchery there stood Ntate Lehoko with a newspaper , as Mthakathi went up to declare he was there to collect his lunchbox and money, Ntate Lehoko opened the days newspaper to Mthakathi’s shock, It was a picture of Jomo Sono with the two Vaal Professionals FC players, worst of all it was on the front page. Mthakhati was stunned, Ntate Lehoko was angry. The two had a huge disagreement, both had a point, one had aspirations to mover to higher heights whilst the old man felt proper procedure was not followed. Mthakathi aged 21, joined Jomo Cosmos after successful assessments, so talented he was he hit the ground running at Cosmos that season becoming the top goalscorer, player of the season & remarkably two fastest goals against Kaizer Chiefs FC & Moroka Swallows FC during a Charity Spectacular in Durban. Mthakathi reminisces: “I felt that was the right move for me to realise my potential. It was challenging as every morning I would be travelling to school then a taxi to Westgate which then I would wait for the the club’s taxi to pick-up me. I never failed”. With newfound fame & glamour, Mthakathi remained humble & all of his earnings had to go back to his parents. “I used to give my salary envelope to my family & we would pray for it. I only got change but it was normal & not a burden on me,it was my family after all” ⚽
Catch part two of “Celebrating the Legend ~ Augustine Makalakalane” where Augustine Makalakalane & the late Thomas Madigage take Cosmos & Scotland by storm.
Narrating The Vaal Triangle Football Story
Vaal Diski 9-Nine 