With a few months left on his contract with SuperSport United, experienced defender Thulani Hlatshwayo has his work cut out for him, as he needs to perform consistently well on the field in order to earn an extension with the Tshwane-based club. The injury he sustained towards the end of last year did not help his case. But he is back on the pitch now and ready to inspire Matsatsantsa to a strong finish this season, with a CAF Champions League spot and the Nedbank Cup title still up for grabs. Soccer Laduma's Tshepang Mailwane spoke to the 34-year-old about making a return from injury as he discusses being sidelined through injury. The former Orlando Pirates defender also talks about why he was worried about his contract when he was out nursing his knock.
Tshepang Mailwane: Hola Tyson, it's great to have you with us this week. You were out with an injury for about three months, and you returned not so long ago. What was it like being out for that long?
Thulani Hlahtshwayo: It was a heavy situation. It challenged me mentally. If you look at it, I've never had a lot of injuries. It was hard for me to deal with it. I am left with a few months (of the contract) at SuperSport. Mentally, it was so difficult. Yes, you will have setbacks and Ramahlwe Mphahlele said to me after we played AmaZulu, "You came back as if you never left". For me, it's how you take care of yourself. We have a lot of youngsters in the team who make us run daily, which I really love so much. I am happy to be back and I am happy to do what I love.
TM: What really challenged you mentally, about the injury?
TH: I've known Gavin (Hunt) for many years, and I know that he wants clean sheets. The team was conceding a lot, and I thought I needed to come back because I also believe that the less goals we concede, the better chance we have of going for the league. When I came back, we conceded against AmaZulu, (Mamelodi) Sundowns and Richards Bay, but when I look at those goals, I felt that it's something we need to fix. Besides the coach, I also felt that I am the one who needed to speak to the guys. Gavin and I are the same; we hate losing. When we lose, even journalists should not touch us because we hate losing.
TM: What did you say when you spoke to the players?
TH: I told them that we need to keep clean sheets. For us to make this guy (Hunt) happy, we need to keep clean sheets. That's it.
TM: How did your teammates respond to you, as one of the leaders in the team?
TH: They listen to what I say. It's respect. It's not leadership when people fear you. That's how you take care of home. Being a leader is hard. It's not easy because I use that in my personal life as well, with my wife and kids. It's hard. I feel at home at SuperSport and when I feel at home, I am going to give it my all. Also, I know how Gavin is. I know his mindset. I know how he thinks. Sometimes I just need to look at his face to tell you that we need to work because he is not in the happiest of moods. I can tell how he is feeling by just looking at him. We have a love-hate relationship and that's part of the game. It shows that we are still hungry.
TM: You mentioned that you have a few months left on your contract. How stressful was it while you were injured, knowing that you don't have much time left?
TH: Yes, I was (worried). I have a contract finishing soon. It's like if you were to ask me what's my position with Bafana Bafana. I haven't retired from Bafana Bafana, but what do I need for me to be eligible to play for Bafana? It's performance. And where is performance? It's at your team, where the bread and butter is. So, when you get injured, you worry.
TM: But surely SuperSport still values you, looking at the contribution you have made since joining them…
TH: Yeah, true. But it's something that we have not discussed yet, but the team was so supportive towards my injury. They made sure I was helped to my full recovery so that I could get back to my full fitness, so we have not touched on contractual discussions yet.
TM: Does it not worry you because the reality is, as you get older, clubs think twice about offering you a contract?
TH: I think it's normal to be worried because this is your bread and butter. It's something you've done your whole life. When I got to SuperSport, I was given a one-year contract, plus an option. I won Player of the Year at the club and my contract was renewed for another year. I was rewarded with a contract. When you get to my age, the most important thing is to remain injury free and give your best performance that will help the team improve its position on the log. Not only that, as one of the senior players, I have a role and responsibility in the team to guide the youngsters who are coming up.
TM: In a situation like this, do you approach the club to start talking about your contract or do you wait for them to open discussions?
TH: I think you have to wait for the team. The only talking I can do right now is on the field and what I do on the field will tell the team what to do. There are a lot of factors that a team looks at, especially when you get to my age. So, I need to talk through my actions on the pitch.
TM: Do you already start having a plan B in case things do not work out?
TH: Definitely. There is no way you can't have a plan B. Football is something I have done my whole life, and I can't wake up tomorrow and be like, "Let me go take Tshepang's work". I don't have the experience that you have. The most important thing is to stay and give back to the game. It has changed our lives. The other day I was speaking with Bash (Onismor Bhasera) because he has already started with his coaching licenses. He said he would send me some dates to do my coaching licenses during the off-season.
TM: Is coaching something you would want to do once you retire?
TH: Not all of us can be good coaches, but probably there is something that will be there for us within football. It's not like I am looking for a free pass just because I am Thulani Hlatshwayo. You need qualifications and then you sit down and brainstorm. As much as I will be getting my coaching licenses, I would have to think about which roles I want to find myself in, like maybe get into administration. But right now, the focus is to do well for SuperSport and then sit down with my wife, family and agent.
TM: Do you ever think about how many more years you still have left to play?
TH: I take each day as it comes. It's a blessing to see a new day. You can see the vision of the team. You can probably count how many senior players there are in the team, so you can feel that the curtain is about to close. So, it would be nice if it closes on your terms and not when you are pushed out.
TM: That's the best way of bowing out…
TH: True, 100 percent. Because when I walked onto the pitch, I walked by myself. And I would like to get off the pitch by myself, not being forced out of the game, by politics or anything else. It's best when I decide that it's time.
TM: Do you ever look back at your career and just think about how fast time has flown by, from your days in the national U20 to now being 34 and closer to the end of your playing career?
TH: Time flies. Time waits for nobody. I remember in the U20, I had the chiskop (bald head). I look at myself now and there is a beard, and it shows that time flies. We should not think that time will wait for you. The more you relax, the more time moves. Coming from Senaoane in Soweto and the development I got from Ajax Cape Town, achieving what I achieved has been great. It shows that God has been with me. I also say that football has soccer gods and they have been with me.
TM: Why is it so difficult for clubs to dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns as Premiership champions?
TH: I think it's the core of the team. There have been overhauls from quite a few teams, but Sundowns have kept the core of their team. You can see that understanding when they play. They stick to their structure, and they don't have to build every season.
TM: So, how do PSL clubs go about stopping them?
TH: We have to compete. They need to be beaten. Our games against Sundowns have been good games to watch and it's just those small margins. When you look at our games, we are able to compete against them. So, we need to compete.
TM: As someone who has captained Bafana Bafana, what are the chances of the team qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, having done well at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast?
TH: They did so well at AFCON. And this has always been a challenge with our national team. The team gets the structure and players gel, and they have that togetherness. Then when we come back from a major tournament, a new coach comes and changes everything because coaches come with their different plans. When you look at this team, you can see that there is a structure there. You can see that they know one another, and they have been together for quite some time. We can qualify for the World Cup. They just need to keep the core of the team.
TM: So then, how important does it become for SAFA to try to keep Hugo Broos as head coach because he has been linked with quite a few jobs elsewhere?
TH: Yes, it's important to keep him because you can see that there is understanding between the coach and the players. We can all see what he has done. You look at their record, you can see that there is a structure. It's not like the team only depends on Percy Tau. They depend on every individual in the team.
TM: Thank you so much for your time, Tyson. Good luck for the rest of the season
TH: Thank you.
THULANI HLATSHWAYO FACT FILE
Place of birth: Soweto, Johannesburg
Nickname: Tyson
Position: Defender
Jersey number: 3
Club: SuperSport United
Previous clubs: Ajax Cape Town, Bidvest Wits, Orlando Pirates
Honours: 54 Bafana Bafana caps, 2016 MTN8 winner, 2016/17 Absa Premiership winner, 2017 Telkom Knockout winner (with Wits), 2020 MTN8 winner (with Pirates)
