It was back in the 2000/01 season, before Twitter and Facebook and such wonders, that Gordon Igesund gave Joseph Makhanya his Premier Soccer League debut.
Makhanya was a young winger at Orlando Pirates trying to make his way in the domestic game, and Igesund was a reputable coach given a shot at the big time, with one league title already under his belt from a spell at Manning Rangers.
The two would be together for only one season. Igesund was forced out at Pirates despite winning the league title, while Makhanya, only a bit-part player that season, went on to be one of the Buccaneers’ most loyal servants, leaving the club only in January 2011, to join Mpumalanga Black Aces on loan.
In moving, Makhanya missed out on Pirates’ next title triumph and was doomed to relegation with Aces instead of celebrating a treble. It seemed perhaps that his time at the top was at an end.
This season, however, has brought new hope to Makhanya, sparked by a reunion with Igesund at Moroka Swallows. The now four-time league title winner pulled Makhanya into the Birds set-up this season, and the diminutive winger has thrived, a regular part of a team ironically hot on the heels of Pirates in a thrilling Absa Premiership title race.
Just two points separate the Birds and the Buccaneers going into the season’s final two fixtures, as Igesund has taken not just Makhanya, but other former players such as Lerato Chabangu and Luvhengo Mungomeni, and re-ignited their confidence.
“He believes in us so much that everyone is oozing confidence,” said Makhanya on how Igesund seems to get the best out of his players.
“When you are confident and enjoying yourself, good things are bound to happen. He supported us, told us he brought us here and he believes in what we can do. We know what he expects so at the end of the day when you get on the field it is easy to deliver.”
Makhanya has formed part of a quite spectacular Swallows attacking force this season, with no one managing more than the 45 goals they have thumped into the back of the net in the league this season.
David Mathebula, another player revitalised under Igesund, and Siyabonga Nomvethe, the league’s top scorer with 18 goals, are contenders for player of the season, and Makhanya was full of praise for his colleagues.
“In every team you need your (Lionel) Messi,” said Makhanya, in reference to the Barcelona great. “Mathebula is our Xavi, playing behind the striker, and Nomvethe is our Messi.”
Platinum Stars visit Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday, while Swallows’ final game is at Maritzburg United. The brief for the Birds is to win both games, while hoping Pirates slip up against Bloemfontein Celtic or Golden Arrows.
“My confidence is in us winning,” said Makhanya. “The rest will take care of itself. It is not in our hands, we just have to win our games. If they drop points, then we could (even) beat them on (goal) difference, so the pressure is also on them.”
Swallows currently enjoy a +12 goal difference to Pirates’ +11, promising a ridiculously close finish if Pirates get four points from their last two games, and Swallows six.
Makhanya does not seem to hold on to much bitterness about the end of his Pirates career, where he barely played in the last couple of seasons, preferring to be philosophical about where he is today.
“It was frustrating, you can imagine,” he said.”But if you soldier on and you are loyal sometimes the game pays you back.”
And payback could yet be pipping Pirates to the Premiership title.
“I would love that to happen (winning the title),” said Makhanya.
“It would be one of the highlights of my career after the struggles I have had,” said Makhanya. “Winning a medal would be a nice feeling.” – The Star