The loyalty runs deep……!

 

(please note coach Pitso was still the coach at the time of the interview)

It is being said that supporters are the number one player of teams, some argue to say they are the 12^th player, but what matters is that supporters form an integral part of football teams, the chanting and cheering from the stands impacts the beautiful game positively. We go deep into the History books of Mamelodi Sundowns and converse with a supporter who has been through it all with Mamelodi Sundowns FC Mr Lickson “Majembeni” Maluleke.

 By: Kgothatso Malepe

 

What a blessing! Mamelodi Sundowns is turning 50 years and has a supporter who is celebrating 42 years with the club. During the 2019/2020 campaign supporters celebrated a birthday of one of their own with a cake sponsored by the club during match half time at Loftus Versveld stadium, it was Majembeni’s birthday, the old man who is always wearing his church-like yellow and green long robe complementing it with a green Zucchetto while beating his sgubhu (drum). He would be looking like he is an archbishop, indeed he is the archbishop of Mamelodi Sundowns supporters, this man started rallying behind Masandawana during the Zola Mahobe times and has never imagine himself supporting any other team, “Sundowns is my Kasi team” he says. Seeing him attending almost every game of Mamelodi Sundowns at his age just makes it evident that the loyalty runs deep.

 

Over the years Mamelodi Sundowns has changed owners and he explain how difficult it was when standard bank took over the reins at the team of his heart. “I remember we were playing against Kaizer Chiefs at Supa Stadium; I was sitting up there on the stands playing my phalafala (sable antelope horn), it was such a sad moment of profound uncertainty. The Tsichlas family approached me and assured me that Sundowns will be secured and in safe hands.” South Africans love football, one can tell by just seeing how happy they become when they are at the stadiums with their colourful gear expressing their excitement through the chanting, the cheering and the songs, so one can only imagine how awful it is to know that happiness might be taken away.

 

Majembeni asserts that what he loves most about Mamelodi Sundowns is their style of play and he can testify that it has not changed from the time the club stole his heart to date. Many would agree with me when I say Majembeni is the walking banner of Mamelodi Sundowns football club, I’d describe his relationship with the club as being more like a long-term marriage, why? Commitment, that is why. Is like he made vows and stayed true to them; he never deserted the club even when conditions were not so favourable. “There was a time when things were really bad, we were losing and then we fetched Mambush in Bethlehem,” says the old man who is enthusiastically sharing his journey with Mamelodi Sundowns thus far. He further goes on to say that he admires the proactivity that the team has always carried throughout the years by always being ready and preparing for the future by introducing more young players to the game, “I love what coach Pitso and co are doing, we have Mkhulisi, Makgalwa, Madisha and now there is the newly promoted Mkhuma”.

 

Every football fan has that one game which left them in an awe, for Majembeni it was when Sundowns found the back of the net six times against Orlando Pirates at Loftus Versveld stadium. He says it was for the first as a stadium going fan experiencing such a tragedy. “I got used that there is loose, a win and a draw and whatever the outcome of the match we should not fight because we win and loose as a team”.

 

 Some of the most memorable times for football supporters is when they go on long distance trips for away games both nationally and internationally. “all our trips are amazing. The one that I will never forget is in 2005 when we went to Korea. We got to Singapore and changed flights to get to Korea, at the airport they did not know Phalafala and our sgubhu (drum) and they asked what is inside. Mr Alex Shakoane was available and he explained what it is, they then requested me to play, I did, and they were so surprised and that is how they let us go”.

Mamelodi Sundowns supporters are the among the most fortunate fans in this football fraternity, they are blessed with a president who flies them out of the country to go watch CAF Champions Leagues live at the stadium during away clashes with all expenses covered. “Mr President (Dr Patrice Motsepe) provides for us and we are very grateful. When we were in Egypt it was difficult, the security was too tight for safety reasons, we went to Alexandria and soldiers were all over, we took time to get inside the stadium because they did not want to allow our sgubhus in. Morocco was a whole different nice experience. It was so nice and welcoming. Mr President booked almost an entire hotel for us; it was an amazing experience. As supporters we should treat ourselves and others well at stadiums and when Mr President give us opportunities, we should not ruin them Masandawana amahle (beautiful Masandawana)” concluded Majembeni.

 

Majembeni is happy that his grandchildren allow him to go to the stadium because is his way of exercising while having fun at the same.