Johannesburg - Orlando Pirates captain Oupa ‘Ace’ Manyisa says the time away from the game has only increased his passion and appreciation of the beautiful game.
The 27-year-old, who has missed over six months of action after suffering a fractured fibula in a goalless draw with Polokwane City last year, has just returned to full training after a lengthy rehabilitation process to his injury.
Prior to that, he was a player clearly moving into the prime of his career, having featured in all but 10 of Pirates’ 120 league between the 2011/12 and the 2014/ 2015 seasons. During this time, he rose to become the club captain, and also featured regularly for the national team.
But that all came to a grinding halt in a matter of seconds at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane last September.
However, rather than dwelling on his misfortune, Manyisa says the time off enabled him to reevaluate his position, which has resulted in an even greater appreciation of what the game of football has meant to his life.
“I’m happy to be back doing what I love playing football again. I have a deeper appreciation for this game now. At times, you get lost in the moment and take things for granted. I am taking it one step at a time. It was difficult at first but I had to have faith that it was part of God’s plan which served as a motivating factor for me,” he said.
“Having spent time off, sitting on the sidelines, I’ve grown to realise how central this game is to my life. It is not just soccer. It is my passion, my career, my life and so I don’t want to take any of it for granted,” he added.
With the Buccaneers currently enjoying a good run of form, the ‘Ghost’ [Pirates supporters] would no doubt love to see their talismanic skipper back on the pitch before the end of the season, which is just a month away.
But the Mohlakeng-born Manyisa says he will not be rushing his return.
“I am in no hurry to come back, I want to continue working hard at training and just try my level best to be in the best possible condition fitness wise so that when I eventually do come back I’m fitter and stronger than before,” he said, before adding:
“I just want to take this opportunity to thank the club and the technical team and my team-mates for their support and most importantly the Ghost, they inspired me and helped me believe that I can come back. It is also through their words of encouragement that I remained strong and focused to return from injury better.”
The Sea Robbers are next in action on Saturday afternoon when they take on Golden Arrows in a league encounter at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Following that, they meet with Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals (23 April), followed by a league game against Polokwane City at the Orlando Stadium on April 27.
African News Agency