Macala Back In The Mix With AmaZulu
AmaZulu FC defender Bonginkosi Macala joined the club with high hopes of resurrecting his career, having been without a club since leaving Santos at the end of the 2011/12 season. He had an interview with Sabie Chili and talks about what the club’s directors expect this season.
Personal Information
Full Name: Bonginkosi Macala
Date Of Birth: 5 October 1985
Place of birth: Kroonstad, Free State
Position: Defender
Jersey no: 23
Current Club: AmaZulu FC
Previous Clubs: Moroka Swallows juniors
University of Pretoria juniors
UConn Huskies (USA)
University of Pretoria
Jomo Cosmos
Santos
Hi Bongi, AmaZulu hasn’t won anything for a long time. What’s the plan to change the situation and win trophies for the club?
Ja, this team is very ambitious. The directors and members of management said they want some silverware this season. Every game we go into is almost like a cup final because we know what the directors expect.
The supporters were quite confident that Usuthu would do very well this season after you beat Manchester City in July last year. What was it like playing in a game of that magnitude?
Those guys play European football every day and it’s something different. They are very professional and have good structures. But we didn’t even think of them as Man City. We just focused on what the coach told us to do and that’s how we played. It was a great experience.
You played for all the junior national teams up to the U23s, but the last few seasons have not been the best for you in terms of your progress. What has been the problem?
I picked up an MLC (medial collateral ligament) injury while training with SuperSport United (in 2012). That set me back for a couple of months. I couldn’t do anything. Luckily, I didn’t have to have an operation. I started training again after some time around December. The club gave me a call to come up, they took a look at me, and the rest is history.
You played for Santos in the 2011/12. The season before the club was relegated to the NFD at the end of the PSL’s promotion or relegation playoffs. Why didn’t you play for the side in the Playoffs?
It was more about personal agendas and the things that happened at the club. But that’s something that I don’t want to speak much about. I was at training all the time and did everything that was required. My contract ended and we parted ways.
How was your stay at the club?
I enjoyed my football very much in my first season there. I had a very good time under David Bright. I also enjoyed myself under Boebie Solomons.
Do you see Santos coming back to the PSL in the near future?
Ja, I think they have got a good crop of players, a mix of young and experienced players. I think they can. David Notoane is the coach there now. He coached me before and I think he is a very good coach who likes to play football.
Why did it take you a long time to sign for another club after leaving Santos?
The thing is that I went to SuperSport and I was with the club for their pre-season. I picked up an injury towards the end of the preseason. The injury took about six months to heal.
Bongi, do you believe in muti?
Personally, I believe in God, but I guess muti works for some teams and some not. I don’t believe in it because I have my personal belief, so no.
You trained with Free State Stars before signing with Usuthu. What happened there?
Ja, Free State Stars did want to me to go there and they had a look at me. But I wasn’t 100 percent fit at the time because my knee was giving me problems.
What improved AmaZulu from the team that was fighting relegation last season?
The inclusion of new players and the arrival of the coach (Craig Roslee) made the difference. The coach introduced new strategies. Because of his character we managed to understand the way he wanted us to play.
Before we let you go, is there anything you’d like to say to the team’s fans?
I’d like to encourage them to keep coming in numbers to the stadium, support us, and we won’t let them down.
Bongi, good luck for your future.
Thanks man.