Teko Modise is one of South Africa's most revered footballers, celebrated as one of the best of his generation and to this day is held in high regard by football lovers far and wide, but 'the General' as he is known, has revealed why he has fears of his son pursuing a career in football.
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So often we have seen the trend where the offspring of footballers follow in famous footsteps, looking to equal – and emulate – the feats of their fathers.
Sometimes, these endeavours end in disappointment, as the proverbial apple falls a bit too far from the tree, with the latter often not living up to the exploits of the former.
For Modise, one of South Africa's greatest ever players, he says he does not want his son to grow up with the pressure of having to live up to the standards set by the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates great.
"I wouldn't push him into football, if it's in his blood, then it's in his blood," Modise told the Siya crew in an exclusive conversation.
"If it is, of course I'll be able to detect that very early and make sure that he becomes the best that he can be, with my support and being in places where I could never be, where he could grow quicker and be coached well.
"The reason why I also said never, is not because of all the things that I went through as a footballer, it's because of the pressure that he will be under, he will always be compared to me.
"I've played with players that have been compared to their dads and I saw how it broke them, I saw how they were unable to be themselves and I don't want my son to go through that.
"It's okay when you're being compared to a defender, a striker or a goalkeeper you can get away with it, but there's certain players in football in every generation, that you'll always have a problem being compared to them and I just fear that comparison and he might start resenting football if he doesn't reach the level that he wants to reach.
"But if it's in his blood, I'm sure that I'll be the first coach he ever has," he said.
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