Former Cape Town City wing-back Gift Links has had a decent season with Aarhus Gymnastikforening in the Danish Premier League. He displayed just what a talented player he is when he scored a screamer in the FA Cup semi-final against FC Nordsjælland to send his club to the final, where they narrowly lost 1-0 to Silkeborg. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Thomas Kwenaite, the Rustenburg-born player opens up about being overlooked by Bafana Bafana and the long journey from Cape Town to Scandinavia, where he discovered the almost demi-god status enjoyed by Sibusiso Zuma in Copenhagen.
Thomas Kwenaite: Gift, good match against Silkeborg in the Danish Cup final, pity your team lost.
Gift Links: It was a tough one, but as a professional you take it on the chin and move on. Such is the nature of the game; you win some and lose some. We dominated the game from the start, but football is tricky sometimes, when you dominate the game and do not convert your chances, you get punished. That is what happened to us, out of nothing.... boom, they scored. It is still raw and painful and very hard to accept. We came back very strongly in the second half. We still had chances and they also created some. I think it was a good Cup final in all respects and I hope the spectators enjoyed the spectacle.
TK: How do you deal with the disappointment of such a game where you came so close?
GL: I have played in the Cup final before. Someone told me that when you play in the final, of course you should leave a small room for disappointment because you never know what will happen. I was excited for the final and all I could think of was seeing my pictures in the media and us winning and all that. But of course, you must leave room for disappointment as I've said. I think after a day, I handled it well. I've gotten over the painful disappointment. Life goes on and two days after the final there is another match coming up, so we have to move on. We cannot drop our heads and cry about it.
TK: But you must be proud of your contributions towards the club reaching the final, even scoring in the semi-final?
GL: It was a great moment to reach the final especially after scoring the only goal that qualified us for the final. But of course, the whole team worked really hard for this milestone. I think what we achieved this season will stick with me for a very long time. Mind you, we didn't win the cup final, but we certainly had a fantastic season.
TK: How would you describe your overall season in Denmark?
GL: I'd say I've had a decent season, not the best by my own standards but a pretty decent season nonetheless because I initially struggled with niggling injuries and have been in and out of the starting XI. But I'm glad that the last few months I've been a regular and have been consistent and have been able to keep on playing. It is quite good.
TK: How do you feel about being left out of the Bafana Bafana squad to play in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers?
GL: Ahhhh... eishhhhh, you know, to be honest with you I truly do not want to get into discussions in that space. There is just too much when it comes to Bafana Bafana, and I really wouldn't want to get involved in those discussions. But obviously when the time is right, I will be able to talk about anything pertaining to Bafana, certainly not right now. Obviously, I wish the team well against Nigeria and Zimbabwe and will continue working hard whenever I get the chance to play for my team in the hope that my time will come.
TK: Fair enough but, has coach Hugo Broos ever called you and informed you that they are watching you and encouraged you to keep working hard?
GL: No, never! Not as far as I can recall. Nobody from the national team or technical team has been in contact with me yet.
TK: Do you keep in touch with South African football?
GL: Oh yes, I do, of course. I watch a lot of games. I have installed the DStv at my place here in Denmark and whenever there are local matches, especially Cape Town City, I always make sure that I watch their matches. I tune in and watch my team without fail.
TK: Do you still remember the 2018 MTN8 final against SuperSport United at only 17 years old?
GL: Of course, I do. I don't know how to express it, you know. When I moved to Cape Town City, they had just lost the final to SuperSport. So, when we reached the final against the same SuperSport, I just told myself that we cannot let them beat us twice, we had to do something. And I was really happy that we came out as winners.
TK: You also defeated Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-finals. Are you aware of how dominant they are these days?
GL: I see and am aware of their dominance in domestic football. There is one guy from our team who went to work for them as Head of Physical Performance, Mathias Zangenberg. He came from us, and we talk a lot. I see they are just cleaning up everything and currently still unbeaten in the league with a game to go, it's crazy! They dominate in everything, which is good for SA football. When it's your time, it's your time, so the others must just keep going and keep challenging them. I see they have also won the (CAF) African Football League and were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
TK: In those early days, did you have a player that gave you problems in the DStv Premiership?
GL: There is one guy that played for Baroka FC, I just cannot remember his name. A short guy, but little bit strong on the tackle (Matome Kgoetyane) …he was my toughest opponent. Whenever I played against this guy, I don't know how he managed it, but it seemed that he could almost always read my mind and he was not only quick, but he also anticipated almost everything I tried and gave me a really tough time.
TK: Do you keep in touch with other South Africans abroad, like Lyle Foster?
GL: I talk quite a lot to Kobamelo Kodisang (Moreirense – Portugal), Keanin Ayer (Naestved) in the First Division here in Denmark, Luther Singh (Cukaricki – Serbia) and many others. We do check up on each other and constantly keep in touch and encourage each other.
TK: How did Aarhus AGF scout you from Cape Town City?
GL: When I signed for Cape Town City, I had a discussion with my agent (Paul Mitchell), that I don't want him to come to me and tell me: "There is interest somewhere!" I told him I wanted him to come to me and tell me there was something concrete on the table. That's how I have always worked with Mitchell. I don't know how they scouted me. He just called me and said there was serious interest in Denmark and if everything went well, the deal might be done in the next 24 hours. Six hours later, both AGF and Cape Town City agreed on the transfer, and it was all up to me to agree personal terms. It worked out very quick and I was surprised as well.
TK: How did your parents feel when you told them you were leaving the country?
GL: It was a little bit tough for them because this was the second time I was moving out of the country. Remember I went to Egypt when I was about 19 years old. When I moved to Egypt it was very difficult for them, very hard indeed to accept because like I say, I had just completed high school. I was like… wow, finally I will have enough time with my family to chill and relax and then, all of a sudden, my agent says, "There is an offer on the table for you from Egypt (Pyramids FC) and we need to go there!"
TK: Hectic.
GL: I told the family, and they were like, "Oh no! You are too young to leave the country," and so on. Then they called one of my former coaches, to mediate. He told them to let me go and experience life outside the country. He told them: "Let him go and realise his dreams and just don't be afraid because you can see he has a big heart. He will survive!" They said: "OK, we will let him go." And then boom, I was on my way to Egypt.
TK: Tell us about that experience.
GL: It wasn't so difficult because remember, I was with Benson Shilongo. Me and Benson worked with the same Management Agency, and we were best of friends on top of that. When the offer came, Benson's contract was coming to an end. My agent suggested to the Egyptian team if they could accommodate Benson as well. We both went to Egypt, and we were both signed. It was kind of easy for me having someone that I knew beside me. It wasn't so hard really.
TK: How did you adjust to the conditions when you arrived in Denmark?
GL: It was a bit difficult at first because I lived in Cape Town and the Mother City can be a little bit windy, rainy, cold and when I came to Denmark, I thought it would be just like in Cape Town. Then I discovered, to my dismay, that I was completely wrong because the winter here was something else. It gets totally dark at 15h00, it's crazy.
TK: One can imagine the atmosphere when you get to play in Copenhagen considering the status of Sibusiso Zuma in that city.
GL: It's a good atmosphere, I would say a lot of teams here are good, the atmosphere is excellent and conducive. The facilities are world-class at each and every match that you play. That's the good thing about Danish football, the supporters are vociferous and stand behind their teams.
TK: We understand that "Rhee" is like a demi-god in Copenhagen. How does that make you feel as a fellow South African?
GL: Of course, I hear a lot of incredible stories about "Rhee" the legend. What he's done here is incredibly amazing, especially for FC Copenhagen and Danish football in general. There are a few South Africans here that I know, and they just tell me how crazy it is whenever he gets to visit Copenhagen. The way they worship him, it's incredible. I feel "Zuma the Puma" is more appreciated here in Denmark than back home. It's true that a prophet is never recognised in his own country, and it is the same with "Rhee." Each and every corner here in Denmark it's Sibusiso, there is also a statue erected of him.
TK: Which coach has contributed to your development the most?
GL: I would say all the coaches that have been part of my journey. I would say all of them came and they have always tried to help me improve in certain areas. All the coaches that have been part of my journey are important in my life. Cavin Johnson, Benni McCarthy, Ali Maher in Egypt, my current coach Uwe Rosler and all the Youth coaches during my formative years have all in their different ways contributed to my development and I appreciate them.
TK: You mentioned Cavin Johnson as one of the coaches that contributed to your development….
GL: Yeah, certainly, he gave me my debut at Platinum Stars when I was still wet behind the ears and a scrawny little lad over 17-years. He trusted me when nobody else had faith in me. A lot of people used to say to me that I was way too young and skinny to be in professional football, but he took a chance on me and gave me my break and even today we speak almost daily.
TK: Are you aware of his challenges at Kaizer Chiefs where somehow, he just cannot put together a consistent run?
GL: Yeah, I'm aware and I see a lot of what's going on at Naturena. But I also know that he is a strong-willed coach and will bounce back because he is such a good coach and very knowledgeable, very passionate and very dedicated to his task. I have no doubt that, given more time, he could turn things around.
TK: Who is your all-time favourite player and why?
GL: It's a tough one. But I don't know if you remember Henrico Botes, the Namibian striker? I used to love Henrico so much, even when he played for Platinum Stars. I wore jersey number 9 in his honour in the amateur divisions and because I was so short, I was not even playing striker, but I would choose jersey number nine and called myself Henrico Botes. I don't know how it came about but I was simply in love with that guy. And of course, the legendary Benni McCarthy was another favourite player I adored.
TK: Thank you so much, Gift, and all the best.
GL: The pleasure was mine.
