In this week's DoRego's blog, we feature Orlando Pirates Bafana Bafana winger, Tlou Segolela. He shares his experience with Bafana, in their recent World Cup qualifiers.
We arrived in Ethiopia from Cameroon on Friday night and had one training session before the game. From my side, I can't complain about anything because they treated us so well. I think they are such a friendly nation. They welcomed us warmly and were so happy to see us. In terms of the food, we had our own chef. No complaints!
You know, sometimes in life there are things that are meant to happen in a certain way. We lost the World Cup qualifier to Ethiopia 2-1. For us it was a must-win game. We went there and tried our best. We took the lead towards the end of the first half and, unfortunately, they managed to equalise. Fortunately for them they've got a crowd that gets behind them and is very loyal to them. They are fighters. They never lose hope. They continued to surge forward, they persevered and kept possession of the ball very well. Unfortunately we conceded the second goal and, despite our efforts, we couldn't get back into the game. There's no need to blame Bernard Parker for the own goal. Bernard is a very special player for the nation. He's been there, he's been doing great things for the nation, and it's just unfortunate that after scoring a goal for us, he scored the own goal. If you check, he has been contributing so well to the team. He's one of the best strikers we have at the moment and it's unfortunate that he conceded that vital own goal. But, knowing him very well, he's a strong player with a strong mentality. After the game we were encouraging one another. We all tried our best and it's just that the result didn't go our way. If something isn't meant to be, it's not meant to be. We just have to accept it and recognise that we fought and gave it our all. The coach was disappointed with the result, but he was proud of the spirit the players showed in camp and our determination. He said he sees a future for us if we carry on with the same mentality and continue to do the right things.
Obviously there is going to be disappointment, but we got a warm welcome (to South Africa). The supporters were there at the airport and some of them were saying that we gave our best. It shows that they saw our fighting spirit as a team and they see a future for us. Sometimes in life you just need to be realistic, and my message to them is that they must keep supporting us at all times, through thick and thin. When the going gets tough, we rely on them. That's the only thing we need. You saw the Ethiopians, they really rely on their supporters to get going and that's the only thing we are lacking at the moment. But, besides that, we thought this was the right time and you could feel, you could sense, that we were doing something right. That positivity from the supporters is what we need now.
It's always a great feeling to represent your country. But it's not an easy thing to be away from your country, having to adjust to the challenges you face. You just have to accept that you are not at home and whatever happens is just there for that moment, you know. It builds you as a player, it makes you stronger, it gives you that mentality that you should just persevere and go all the way and dig deep in life. Even if it's a negative thing, turn it into a positive and see what the result is going to be for you in the end. What I'm trying to say is that perseverance is key when going into Africa. I know a lot of people were questioning my call-up, but I never felt like proving anyone wrong. When the coach selected me, he saw something that I was doing in my team that could benefit the national team. As a player, that motivated me. In life, I just have to do the things that I have to do for me to go forward, not to prove somebody wrong. Whatever I'm doing in life is something that I have to do. It's not about proving people wrong. If you always think about proving people wrong, you'll never grow as a person. Every person has his own goals and challenges and you just have to turn those challenges into positives and see what the results are going to be.
I'm reporting for preseason with the rest of the team today (Wednesday). The technical team will decide what's going to happen in terms of my future. I don't want to say much on that one but, you know, as a player, game time is very important. That's the only concern. If you are sitting and not doing anything, just training... you don't wanna feel like that, wa bona (you see)? As a player and at my age, I need to play regularly. I heard rumours about moving to Kaizer Chiefs, but I don't know anything about that. The last season was a tough one because the team didn't achieve anything and I didn't get much opportunity to play. My ambition for next season? Obviously I want to grow as a player and go play overseas. I just want to do well for my team and see them achieving things and, most importantly, conquer Africa!
Tlou Segolela,
Orlando Pirates Bafana Bafana
