Unfulfilled potential. These are probably the two words that first come to mind when a lot of South African football supporters think of Lehlogonolo Masalesa. If indeed the description fits the former Orlando Pirates lad, then he is certainly not alone, for there were many such players who possessed the talent but for this reason or the other just never hit their straps. He had everything – the height of a Yaya Toure, the tactical nous of a Michael Essien, the passing ability of a Cesc Fabregas… and much more.
Such was his potential that when Orlando Pirates came so close to conquering the continent in 2013, he was in the thick of things, bossing the midfield against established names from the likes of Al Ahly and Zamalek. Sadly, having last been in action in the pro ranks three years ago, the man nicknamed "Vieira", whose football intelligence far outweighed his lack of pace on the pitch, remains but a distant memory. Soccer Laduma's Tshepang Mailwane went searching for the 32-year-old, and when he found him, sat him down as he lets the cat out of the bag about what is exactly currently happening with him. And Masalesa, like a kid in a candy store, says a mouthful in this frank interview!
Tshepang Mailwane: Hola 'Vieira', it's been such a long time. You haven't played professional football in three years now. Have you retired from the game?
Lehlogonolo Masalesa: Yes, I have retired. I thank God for how He has blessed me. I think everything that had to happen happened. I genuinely have no regret whatsoever. I am only announcing it now, but I have been away from football by choice since three years ago. I'll always love the game because it has given me so much. It's a talent that I made a career out of. There were highs and lows, but no regrets. I just wish that the ones playing now understand how blessed they are. This is a career that can give you so much, but over and above that, you can give so many people so much joy. These are people you've never met and people you'll never meet. It's people who just adore you. I enjoyed meeting the people I met in football. Some friendships will obviously last longer than others. I genuinely hope that these young boys understand what they have and that it will come to an end. I also hope that we have people who own clubs that try to allow these boys to move to spaces where they will earn more and get more exposure because I genuinely believe that South Africa has the capacity to produce a player for Barcelona or Real Madrid in terms of raw talent.
TM: You mention the words "by choice". How do you get to that point of deciding that it's time to call it a day?
LM: A good dancer knows when to stop. Football tells you. You start at Platinum Stars, then move to Wits, you have clubs from Europe trying to get you. Then you get Bafana Bafana call-ups. You join one of the biggest clubs (Orlando Pirates) and then you move abroad and then come back. I don't want to be those people who force things, but I genuinely feel that because I never wanted to play in South Africa, playing in South Africa never fulfilled me and when I came back from abroad (Greece), it was time. I was no longer enjoying it. When I was at Black Leopards, I told you that I had fallen out of love. I had even thought of leaving at that time, but I got back and fell back in love. But football tells you…like how you used to train and how you used to do extra. Then you get to a point where you don't mind going out the night before training. Things like that tell you that you are no longer as dedicated as you were. So, why rob people who come to watch you with their hard-earned money? I've always been of the opinion that if you can't give your best anymore, allow others to have that opportunity because it's a lifechanging game. I wouldn't have the life I have if I hadn't played football. It's the truth. Peter Crouch says he'd still be a virgin if he wasn't a footballer. I am grateful to God that out of so many people my age, He chose me to represent Him with the talent He gave me. I believe it was harder back then to break in. Now there is MDC (MultiChoice, now DStv Diski Challenge) and you can play in front of crowds. Back then, we would just go straight from development. I am not discrediting what is happening, but people must understand how hard it is. Getting there is hard, but staying is harder.
TM: So, what have you been up to since you last played professional football in 2021?
LM: I am a secretive person, but God takes care of me, and He takes care of me properly. The same way He raised me in football is the same way He is raising me with what I am doing now. I can't divulge much, but we are fine. Maybe we are even finer than we were when we were playing.
TM: Without divulging much, are you in business?
LM: Yes, we can say that. To answer your question, it (football) started to clash with what I am doing. Like I'd have a meeting and I have training at 09h00. When I looked at that, as well as my age, and the fact that my upward trajectory stopped, that told me that what I am doing now is more long-term than trying to keep playing. When it got to a point where I knew it was no longer my future per se, and other things were now my future, then I knew that it was time. It was a decision I took with the consultation of even my parents. Also, when you have kids, to them I am not 'Vieira'. I am 'Papa'. You want to be there for them when they transition from small to big school. It's things like that, but when I noticed the upward trajectory was stopping, I knew it was time. I know I have God and that's everything to me. He will never give me a thought that will be to my detriment. That's what informs my decisions. I believe in the power of prayer. I thank God from where He took me from and where he put me.
TM: What do you make of the career you had?
LM: I was not supposed to play in South Africa. I was not a South African player. When my move to Sporting Lisbon (in Portugal) did not happen, I knew that I would not move anymore. I went to Sporting, did medicals and there were negotiations. But I was still owned by the academy (Africa Sports Academy). Sporting did not understand because, on paper, I am a free agent, but Wits and the academy had their own agreement. The academy wanted a transfer fee from Sporting, but on Transfermarkt, I was a free agent, and they did not understand why they had to pay and it fell through. That's just the long and short of it. When I look back, the players who made it in Europe, like Benni McCarthy, Steven Pienaar and Aaron Mokoena, are those who left early. I believe if Percy Tau, for example, got the Brighton move when he was 20 years old, then he would have played for one of the biggest clubs in England. He has the talent, but in his game, he has grasped so many things that are not so good that they do not like in Europe. I never wanted to play in the country. I grew up watching Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and, at the academy, "Jazzy Queen" (Harold Legodi) used to show me videos of Socrates and Pep Guardiola. Not to be disrespectful, but when you look at my game, I think it would be appreciated more in Europe.
TM: Why do you say that?
LM: If you look at myself, (Kamohelo) Mokotjo and Thato (Mokeke), if we were Spanish, where would we be playing? This may sound controversial, but if Sergio Busquets was born in South Africa, he would not have played professionally just because of the way he is. He would not have made it. You guys (in South Africa) want fighters, you don't want footballers. You want a number six who has 10 ball recoveries. But in Europe, your number six must be economical on the ball. He must not lose the ball. It's different. We don't appreciate that player that we don't really see but is doing a lot on the pitch. Europeans understand and love that more, but we will get to that point. I believe that a number six that you see is not a good one. But I have no regrets and the things that have happened in my life had to happen. I am proud to say that I was part of the Orlando Pirates team that went to the 2013 CAF Champions League final.
That is what helped (Mamelodi) Sundowns realise that you can win the Champions League because of the mental fortitude we showed. That Pirates team in 2013 was the one because we had soldiers. We had men. You had (Siyabonga) Sangweni, Rooi (Mahamutsa), Lucky Lekgwathi. Those were men. I played with men. Having said that, I still have a qualm with Irvin (Khoza), that he should have travelled with us in 2013. If it meant that much, he should have. At the very top, you need those things. The reality is, after 1995, how many years did they (Pirates) have to wait until 2013? It means you don't have a guarantee to say when it will happen again. I genuinely believe that an extra bit of touch could have helped. Not even to interact, but just his presence would have just helped us a little bit. Because that season, we had the potential, but we missed it up with the final of the MTN8. If we had won the MTN8, and then the Telkom Knockout, then the Champions League… if we had started on a good note, I believe that we could have also won the league. With the crop of players we had, that team was that good.
TM: For sure…
LM: Even at Wits, I played with men. I played with Kampamba Chintu and Timothy Batabaire. I also played with Old John Mabizela. Before you even play, earning their respect in training was something else. For me, Old John is probably the best player we've produced, although his talent was never realized. That's my opinion. I played with him at Platinum Stars and Wits. Maybe I should work and have the means, but I could easily sponsor Old John to get all these (coaching) badges. I know the man and I know his character. He was good and we need such people to impart their knowledge onto the next generation. He helped me a lot in terms of advice and expectations of me in training. I enjoyed every minute and one thing I will always miss is the changing room. That feeling of brotherhood is unmatched. Nothing can replace that.
TM: Vieira, you were indeed a top-notch footballer and we're glad you know it too. The game may not have given you all that you wanted, but we're sure a lot of fans out there feel honoured to have seen you in action. At Soccer Laduma, we take our hats off for your contribution to SA football and wish you the best of luck going forward.
LM: Thank you.
