There are many Kaizer Chiefs supporters who are waiting impatiently for the club to end their trophy drought, but actor Zamani Mbatha, an Amakhosi faithful, is a firm believer that everything has its time.
Mbatha is one person who is choosing to look at things from a positive point of view, believing that every team has its time to bounce back from a difficult period. Soccer Laduma caught up with Mbatha to speak about his love for Amakhosi.
As a Kaizer Chiefs supporter, what do you think of the season they had in 2022/23?
What I feel is that everyone has their time. There's huge pressure and the expectations we have plays a role in a way. I think more than anything, we should look at how they do it overseas. They don't lose hope and they don't speak negatively and how much they continuously support their team, regardless of whatever outcome of the many matches and many seasons that they play, until they win. I think that's another thing that brings the beauty to the game that, when we win, it feels different. As I said, everything has its time. We can heal from the heartbreak. Disappointments will come, the same way achievements will come. We shouldn't put pressure and rather just accept and appreciate that everything has its time. We will be alright.
In your opinion, should Arthur Zwane be given more time to continue to build and see how things go?
I feel like the way things are done these days, it's a bit harsh. If we believe in time, we should believe in giving people time and believe in giving them a chance. Sometimes giving someone a chance can be giving them time to work around the structure of the team. Sometimes the person themselves can realise that it's not their time and maybe say 'I can come back in five years and do better'. Football is a tricky game. You need to have a heart for football.
Where did your love for Chiefs come from?
I started supporting them because my dad was a Chiefs supporter. My mom was a Pirates fan, but I've always been like a daddy's boy. So, that's how I started supporting Chiefs. All the heroes, like Siphiwe Tshabalala, (Collins) Mbesuma...it's there. I was also inspired by my uncle because his dream was to play for Chiefs. He was a really good football player. That's where it started. In the family we have a whole lot of Pirates fans, so I wanted to be part of the two or three who support Chiefs.
Do you have an all-time favourite Chiefs player?
It's Siphiwe Tshabalala. I just feel like he left a big mark at Chiefs and he scored that brilliant goal for South Africa at the World Cup. That's something we can never erase in our minds. I was one of the millions of South Africans watching that game. So, Tshabalala really made an impact. He was my hero and still is my hero. He showed true sportsmanship and he worked really hard.
You are a supporter of Manchester City as well. How did it feel to see the Cityzens winning the treble this season?
I don't think we'll ever have someone who is as good as Pep (Guardiola). It's been a debate I have been having with my friends. I said, 'Name me someone who is better than him?' They named all the other coaches, but I keep saying, 'Who has done what he has done?'
