Baloyi Looking To Revive His Career At Swallows
Lucky Baloyi`s Kaizer Chiefs career stagnated over the last two seasons, leading to his loan move to Moroka Swallows. He was Chiefs’ Most Improved Player of the 2011/12 season and is now looking to revive his career at Dube Birds. He talks about his intention to help Swallows this season and bring back the glory days at Swallows.
Personal Information
Full names: Lucky Given Baloyi
Date of birth: 19 June 1991
Place of birth: Mokopane, Limpompo
Nickname: Sheriff
Position: Midfielder
Jersey no: 8
Club: Moroka Swallows (on loan)
Previous Clubs: Tshiamo Academy, Kaizer Chiefs Academy, Soweto Panthers, Kaizer Chiefs
Honours: 2012/13 Nedbank Cup winner and 2012/13 PSL winner
Let`s talk about your impression of the new
signings and the errors they committed?
In football, we play as a team and lose as a
team. I don`t think it would be fair to start pointing fingers. Yes, the
mistakes were committed, but I think it is also a wake-up call for the new guys
who are making their mark in the PSL.
Do you think this team can do better than last
season and avoid relegation?
Yes, we have a team to compete in the PSL. With
the new players, complimented by the experienced core of the team, I believe we
can do well this season.
What can you tell us about your loan move to Dube
Birds?
I would like to let everyone know that I was
highly welcomed at Swallows and immediately felt at home. It is well-known that
I didn`t get enough game-time at Chiefs and I think the management thought
about my future because, at the end of the day, my happiness comes first.
Swallows needed a holding midfielder and Chiefs spoke to me about it and I said
I was willing to go on loan. That is how I ended up here and I would like to
thank both Chiefs and Swallows for making this loan move happen.
This is obviously a critical season for you. It
could be argued that you either excel at Swallows so that Chiefs recall you, if
not your days at Naturena could be numbered.
On that note…yes, the ball is in my court.
Obviously Chiefs loaned me to Swallows to revive my career. This is the
platform for me to perform to the best of my ability and earn myself a ticket
back to Naturena. I would like to go back to Kaizer Chiefs and compete with the
best again. However, I will have to work hard. I am competing with equally good
players at Swallows, and that won`t make things easy for me.
How has a lack of game-time at Chiefs affected
you?
I was affected at some stage, but, with
encouragement from the technical team and my teammates, I made sure that I
remained focused and worked hard like all the players in the team. Naturally I
have a strong heart and I’m not one who gives up too easily.
Did your lack of game-time at Chiefs not cause
you to lose self-confidence?
To be honest, it did. I was gradually losing
confidence, but there were a lot of things that kept me going strong. Seeing
other youngsters who were getting enough game-time at their respective teams
and playing week in week out gave me courage and confidence that one day I
would also get my chance, and that I would have to grab it with both hands when
I did. Guys like Bongani Zungu, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Keagan Dolly and Pappy Fatty
were really on top of their game and that encouraged me to perform like them if
I got the chance.
Coach Stuart Baxter, seemed to believe in you.
Yes, the coach believed in me. He didn`t give up
on me and always encouraged me to work hard and it really gave me hope. He gave
me the armband during our Nedbank Cup game against FC Buffalo.
How do you see your future, and what do you
intend to do to revive your career?
For me, the most important thing is to get my
career back on track at Swallows.
Do you think Swallows is the right team for you
to revive your career?
Yes, and I`m delighted to have joined the team. I
feel my loan move to Swallows will guide my career in the right direction. It
is up to me to make sure that I grab the opportunity and deliver.
Now that you are with Swallows, do you feel like
you have a point to prove to Chiefs?
For me it is not a matter of proving anybody
wrong or right, but maybe because I joined from Chiefs there will be high
expectations from me.
Having spent so many years with Amakhosi, what
will you miss about Naturena?
I grew at Chiefs having started in the development
ranks, however, I found myself a new family in Moroka Swallows and life has to
go on.
You are now on the fourth year as a professional
player. How do you sum up your time spent in South Africa`s elite league?
Honestly speaking. I am not happy about how
things have turned out. When I was promoted from the development ranks, I had
dreams that I wanted to see myself serving my country regularly at National
level, but unfortunately in football you won`t achieve the goals you have set
for yourself if you are not playing regularly. I think I had a good season in
the 2011/12 campaign, I won the Most Improved Player of the Season award (at
Chiefs). Yes, a lot was expected after that, but what I can say is that, like
in life, football has its own challenges and I always knew that, as a
professional player, I had to be able to face them. Nevertheless, I am happy
that I`m still playing in the PSL. At 23, age is on my side and I believe I
still have a lot to offer.
Despite my lack of game-time, I have reached a
stage where my game has matured, although there is always room for improvement.
I am also happy with my performances in the game I played for Chiefs. Even
though it was not enough, I received a lot of praise from my teammates and the
technical staff. I am a professional and I do understand that such things
happen in football. Despite the setbacks, there are some positives in my career,
like winning the 2012/13 League title and the Nedbank Cup with Amakhosi. That
means my name will always be in the history books of players who achieved
something with the club.
Thank you for your time, best of luck in the new
season.
Thank you.