Wits’ Slim Kat Reveals Why He Had To Leave Pirates
Former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs left the team he won a double treble with to reunite with his former team Wits.
Was there bad blood between him and coach Roger De Sa?
We get the Cape Town-born keeper`s take on it, as he talks to Sabie Chili about leaving Pirates for the clever boys.
Personal Information
Full names: Moeneeb Josephs
Date of birth: 19 May 1980
Place of birth: Mitchell`s Plain
Nickname: Slim Kat
Position: Goalkeeper
Jersey no: 16
Club: Bidvest Wits
Previous Clubs:
Westdale (amateur)
Westridge Rovers (amateur)
Cape Town Spurs Juniors (amateur)
Cape Town Spurs
Ajax Cape Town
Wits
Orlando Pirates.
Honours:
2000 Rothmans Cup (Ajax)
2002/03 PSL Players Player of the Season (Ajax)
2009/10 PSL Goalkeeper of the Season (Pirates)
2010/11 & 2011/12 PSL tittles (Pirates)
2010 & 2011 MTN8 (Pirates)
2011 Nedbank Cup (Pirates)
2011 Telkom Knockout (Pirates)
Bafana Bafana U17 caps – 2
Bafana Bafana U20 caps – 5
Bafana Bafana Senior caps – 22
Hi Slim Kat. Bennie McCarthy retired and you left Pirates. Was it a case of wanting to leave Pirates at the same time?
No, No, No it has nothing to do with that. Bennie has his career and he is at a different level of his. Bennie is a big man and I am a big man.
Was lack of regular game time one of the reasons you decided to leave Pirates?
I was playing at Pirates until I got injured and Senzo Meyiwa was doing well after that. It was just time for me to move on. Pirates have done a lot for my career and I`m grateful to them.
Was it difficult for you to accept being second choice after he grabbed his chance?
Why should it have been hard for me to accept? Senzo is doing well for himself and I supported him when I wasn`t playing. There is no reason to feel bad when your teammate is playing. You support each other all the time because you are doing it for the team and not as individuals.
We know you said Bennie had nothing to do with your decision to leave Pirates, but a lot was said about the two of you working against Rodger De Sa.
Those were just rumours. People always say what makes them feel good even if there is nothing happening. There was nothing like that with me or Bennie with coach De Sa.
Some Pirates supporters still maintain that if it hadn`t been for your bad relationship with Rodger, you’d still be a Bucs player today.
As I`ve said, there is nothing like that and supporters can think what they like, but my supporters know that I`m not that kind of person. I love Pirates but this is football and life has to go on.
Ok, how was your relationship with Rodger?
He was my coach and I was his player. There was nothing more than that.
There were reports that Bennie influenced you to turn your back on Bafana when you announced your premature retirement from international football.
That`s not true. I am my own man and Bennie is his own man. I made my own decision and Bennie had nothing to do with it.
Are you happy with what you achieved at Pirates?
Oh, it was five years of brilliance. Unbelievable, you know. I am happy and I think I owe a lot of thanks to the supporters. When I arrived, they were on my case and I thought, they were against me but that wasn`t what was going on. They knew my ability, they knew what I was capable of and they wanted to see that. That completely changed my mindset and as soon as that happened, things started to take off for me and we started winning things, so everything I achieved there was thanks to the supporters. Those who are on your case week in and week out do that for a reason and I want to dedicate everything to them.
How do you think rates Senzo as a goalkeeper?
Senzo will grow as a goalkeeper and I think he has been doing very well and he is gaining experience, which will help him. He has played many games in Africa and he is going to be a big asset to Pirates because he has his confidence back and that is what`s important as a goalkeeper.
Any regrets about leaving Pirates?
Not at all. I won six trophies with Orlando Pirates, what else could there be? Every footballer wants to win things, and Pirates gave me that opportunity to achieve things. Many footballers around the world end their careers without winning trophies, but Pirates gave me that achievement and I am grateful to them.
Broer, thanks for your time and all the best.
Pleasure.
