Some fans might know him from his time at Orlando Pirates, but James Mothibi was one of the most feared strikers at African Wanderers. He started playing organised football in 1997, when his father moved to Klerksdorp, after getting a job in Stilfontein. He joined Western Aces, which was owned by the late Philemon Masinga and went on to play for several teams including Kansas City, alongside the likes of Gert Schalkwyk, Moses Spandeel, Jimmy Kauleza and Kagiso Letshwenyo. In 2001, Mothibi was signed by Wanderers and spent two seasons with the KZN side before joining The Buccaneers in 2004. He had short stints with Maritzburg United and Mpumalanga Black Aces.
James, long time no speak. Most readers know you from your time with Orlando Pirates, but in fact your professional career started at African Wanders.
In Klerksdorp, we had a guy called Tornado, who was very good at talent identification. He recommended me to then African Wanders coach, Moeti Khasu. Tornado was a very good friend, he told Moeti about what I could do as a player and at the time, I was still working at the mines in Stilfontein after my father got me a job there. I felt like the job was not for me, and I wanted to move to Durban to pursue a professional career in football. I went to Durban and only trained with the team once before I was signed. The team was still campaigning in the Mvela Golden League (now Motsepe Foundation Championship). I played there and won promotion to the PSL at the end of the 2001/02 season. I had a great opportunity to play under Mlungisi 'Professor' Ngubane.
From the mines, Mvela Golden League and the PSL. Surely you must have been happy with the progress you were making.
Yes, I was happy but there was also pressure to perform because the PSL is completely different from amateur football. Not to mention that my first PSL match was against Kaizer Chiefs in front of their passionate supporters. You know how Chiefs supporters are, the noise and boos, I was very nervous honestly speaking. I was only introduced in the last 10 minutes, but that game opened a lot of doors for me. The match ended 0-0 in front of a packed Absa Stadium in Durban. My next game was at King Zwelithini Stadium against Orlando Pirates and that is when I gave them hell, created a lot of chances and scored. They beat us 2-1 after introducing Sibusiso Mazibuko and the late Gift Leremi. I had good and bad times at African Wanders in a sense that I was not making money, I was only earning R1 200. But I don't regret the opportunity that they gave me, it allowed me to show my talent to South Africans. After that season I received an offer to join Pirates from the late Zodwa and Nkosana Khoza.
Tell us more.
When I first met the late Zodwa and Nkosana, I didn't know who they were, ha, ha, ha. I was at the team hotel when England came to play Bafana Bafana in 2004. While I was at the hotel reception speaking to the late Phil Masinga, Zodwa and Nkosana came to ask me for my number, and I gave it to them because I thought they were journalists who wanted to do interviews, ha, ha, ha. I'm a very nice person, I give my numbers out to everyone including supporters. Phil then asked me: 'Do you know who those people are?' and I answered: 'No'. He said: 'This is the son and daughter of Irvin Khoza, I'm sure they want to sign you'. I was shocked when I heard that. They called me and told me that they were going to speak to the owner of African Wanders because they wanted to sign me. Pirates booked me a flight to Joburg and when I arrived in Joburg I stayed at Milpark hotel for three weeks, without training with the team. Maybe Pirates wanted me to feel comfortable. Irvin came and gave me R5000 to buy lunch and I thought to myself: 'My salary at African Wanders is R1 200, and this guy is giving me R5000 to buy food'. I thought this is what I'm looking for. Pirates' first offer was R6000, but I refused, their second offer came at R8000, and I also turned it down. Irvin told me that I was not appreciative, because that is what guys like Phumudzo Manenzhe, Jimmy Tau, Benedict Vilakazi and Gift Leremi got when they started. Before I left we finally agreed on a contract including a signing-on fee of R175 000, which I used to buy a car and that is how I signed.
We hear you…
I needed a car because I was travelling from Southgate to Johannesburg Stadium. Before I bought a car, I used to get a lift from Jimmy Tau and Joseph Makhanya and it was irritating for them sometimes because after training they needed to attend to personal stuff, while I had to go home and get some rest. So, I felt that it was good that I had a car and travel everyday to training. But I had a good two years at Pirates.
Who were some of the characters at Pirates?
We had a lot of characters in that team. But I will never forget the day we played the CAF Champions League against Bakili Bullets in Blantyre, Malawi and lost 1-0. Jimmy Zakazaka scored for them and that is when I realise that, it doesn't matter how professional you are, when you play against a team that is hungrier it will always be difficult. Those guys ate bread and Rama before the game, when we entered the stadium, we saw them eating and they still managed to beat us, ha, ha, ha. After that game, we went to the hotel, and I was sharing a room with the late Leremi. He was a very naughty character. He said to me: 'Hey James, we need to steal Sbusiso Mazibuko's passport and hide it' because we knew that he is someone who gets frustrated very easy. We briefed assistant coach Tebogo Moloi on the joke, and he was in on it. While we were waiting for the flight home at the airport, we took Mazibuko's passport. Sbusiso was looking for his ticket and passport, ha, ha, ha, and wanted to cry. We said to him: 'Mfana, if you can't find your passport, we will leave you behind, and you must build yourself a nice shack in Blantyre because this is where you will live'. Tebogo was also putting pressure on Sibusiso to find his passport and the man wanted to cry. But before we boarded the flight, Gift gave it back to him and told him not to be careless. Eish, S'bu was very upset.
The late Gift was a character indeed. James, thanks lot for your time. Looking forward to hearing more stories from you next week.
Ja, Gift was a character and a close friend of mine. But we will talk again, my brother.
By Zola Doda
STILL IN TOUCH FUN FACTS
My first paycheque:
R1 200 at African Wanderers
My biggest salary: R13 500 on loan at Maritzburg United
Opponent I respected the most: Fabian McCarthy and Mbulelo 'Old-John' Mabizela
Team I'd have loved to play for: I trained with AmaZulu, but I never got to play for them.
Favourite PSL player right now: Ashley Du Preez, Khama Billiat, Relebohile Mofokeng
Craziest request from a fan: Boots
Best coach I played under: Professor Ngubane and Kostadin Papic
