In the build-up to the Olympics, soccer writer Njabulo Ngidi profiles the players who will represent South Africa in Rio and Matshelane Mamabolo reminisces on a member of the Class of 2000 who played in a similar position. Today they look at Tashreeq Morris and Nkosinathi Nhleko
Johannesbrug - The responsibility of leading the attack for the national Under-23 team in the Olympics will be among the easiest burdens that Tashreeq Morris will carry on his 22-year-old shoulders.
The Ajax Cape Town forward has handled bigger responsibilities. He had to grow from a teenager to a man in an instant after his father was shot in the gang-ridden Mitchells Plain where he grew up.
“That was one of the most devastating moments for me,” Morris said.
“It happened four years ago. I was 18. I had just finished school. It was terrifying because I am the oldest son in a family of five children. I lost a father figure and had to grow up a lot, very quickly. I had to play the father figure role for my siblings along with being a big brother. I had to keep my head right to take care of my mother and brothers.”
Taking care of his family pushed Morris to succeed, with his religion and family helping him keep his sanity in a tough time. He practically grew up with his “brother” Abbubaker Mobara at the Urban Warriors.
The pair joined the club’s academy at the same time. They were signed because of the deadly attacking duo they formed for an amateur team Woodlands United, which beat Ajax in the final of a youth tournament.
They both scored that day and are both going to the Olympics.Mobara was then converted to play every position on the field, except in goal. Meanwhile, Morris refined his skills as a forward.
His almost 2m tall frame helped him excel in that position, winning the MTN8 last season with a young Ajax side.
His success has been built on how well he holds the ball, allowing his teammates to shine because he hasn’t been that prolific in front of goal, though he hits the back of the net here and there.
Nhleko's hard work pays off
The Olympics were supposed to provide a learning experience for the then 21-year-old Nkosinathi Nhleko. Fairly new to the Sasol Super Squad, the Jomo Cosmos striker was fourth in the pecking order behind stars Benni McCarthy, Siyabonga Nomvethe and Daniel Matsau.
Yet, after coming on in the dying minutes of the opening clash against Japan, his hard work at training saw him starting in the next two matches.
He didn’t use the opportunities, though, as his first touch let him down against Brazil, while he was poor with his finishing when Amaglug-glug went down to Slovakia.
Likened to Phil Masinga, Nhleko had catapulted himself into national stardom when he scored four goals for Jomo Cosmos in a 4-0 drubbing of Orlando Pirates and having played just a single match for the Under-23s before that, the tall Nhleko, who was strong on the ball and was an excellent header of the ball, became a fully-fledged member of the squad.
He played six of the 12 qualifying matches that also included home and away clashes with Togo in the preliminary round and duly made the final squad.
Granted, he didn’t shine in Australia, but the experience he gained at the Games served him well later - Nhleko becoming somewhat of a journeyman playing in Norway, America, Sweden, back home and in Swaziland. He also played for Bafana Bafana.
The Star