Alex Bapela had an option to make a move to join a Soweto giant during his playing day, but he explained why he chose Mamelodi Sundowns.
Soccer Laduma got in touch with the retired midfielder, who now works at Sekhukhune United, to talk about the six years he spent with the Tshwane giants and why he left Orlando Pirates after less than two months with them.
The years
If I remember well, I joined in 1997 and I was there until 2003. It was a dream being at Sundowns and it still feels like one, when you look at where I come from to what I achieved when I was there. It was just mission impossible, if you ask me. It was beyond my dreams. If I told people what I wanted to do and what I achieved, they would probably tell me that I should wake up from my dream. It was too good to be true.
How the move happened
Honestly speaking, I was a star. Sundowns did not do me a favour when I joined them from Real Rovers. At that time, I could have joined anybody. Everybody wanted me. I just chose them because I was scared of going all the way to Soweto. I thought Pretoria (from Limpopo) was not so far. There are Sepedi speaking people there and I was not far from home. That's what persuaded me to go there. It was not even about the money or the glamour. If it was about glamour, I would have gone to the glamour (Kaizer Chiefs). They wanted to sign me. I had a meeting with them. We sat down, but then the fact that I had to pass Pretoria and Joburg to go to Soweto was not for me. People don't know I played for Pirates. It was in 1993 before playing for Sundowns. I was signed and registered, when Bashin (Mahlangu) was coming back. Teboho Moloi can tell you, Dan Malesela and so on. I played with them at Orlando Pirates. But it was for a short time. I think it was for about six weeks or so because since my playing days I knew that schooling was more important. As soon as I realised that they were not serious about taking me to Soweto college, I said I would rather go home. My mother could not take the fact that I was just going to be a footballer without being a teacher.
The make up of the team
I remember it like yesterday. I can name everybody who was there. Some of the guys who there when I arrived were Mambush (Daniel Mudau), Raphael Chukwu, Isaac Shai, Roger Feutmba, Lovers Mohlala, (Joel) Fire Masilela, John Tlale, Joas Magolego. I know that team like the palm of my hand.
The rands and cents
The money was not too much. It was not about the money so much. Even though the money was there, it's not like they were paying exorbitant amounts of money. The difference in salary about R3000, between Rovers and Sundowns. So, it was not about money. We were getting money through bonuses. It was like R500 and then R600 in the second game and R700 in the third game and R800 in the fourth game. If you draw, you go back to R500 again.
My first day
I remember very well. The team was preparing for a game. It was the last day before the game. We were preparing for the game.
My debut
I remember I came on. I was not in the coach's plans for that week because I had just joined the team, but he decided to play me in the last 15 or 20 minutes. I just fitted in like a glove. It was easy for me to do it because where I came from, at Real Rovers, I was doing a lot because I was not playing with as many talented players as I was at Sundowns. At Sundowns, things were easy. The passes were nice. When I got the ball, everyone was available. Running was not as much. That's why I am saying it was easy for me to play there.
The best player I played with
How do I even mention one? It was just a galaxy of stars. Just to name two, Roger (Feutmba) and Mambush. Let's say John Tlale as well. Besides them being good, they were team players. They always encouraged you to do well and they were always there for you.
Best moment
It will always be winning three league titles in a row. When it happened the third time, it felt like second nature. It felt normal. Whenever we saw a blade of grass, we felt we should win, irrespective who our opponents were.
Lowest moment
Losing the Rothmans in 1998. That was my lowest moment. We wanted to win it at all costs, but there were things beyond our control and we ended up not winning it.
Why I left
I went to Dynamos. I remember when Patrice Motsepe came into the team, that's when I wanted to go. I was revolting. He called me into a meeting and asked me why I wanted to leave. I was 32 or 33. I told him I had reached my ceiling because I could not go overseas at that age or play for Bafana Bafana anymore. I was actually getting paid more at Dynamos than I was at Sundowns.
