IRONICALLY, it is Maritzburg United’s veteran kit manager Zola Luthuli who is the member of the club with the most medals, and Cup pedigree. That's right, no player in the dressing-room has lifted more domestic silverware than Luthuli.
The Team of Choice lock horns with Free State Stars in the Nedbank Cup final at Cape Town Stadium tonight (7pm). And the winners of this clash of minnows will walk away with R7-million and qualify for the Caf Confederation Cup next season.
Siyanda Xulu, Bevan Fransman and Bokgang Thlone are the only players in the United team that own gold medals.
Fransman was part of Kaizer Chiefs' golden era in 2003/04 and 2004/05 when they scooped two league titles and two Coca-Cola Cup crowns. And during his stint in Israel he attained two Cup success with Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Thlone is eyeing a personal double having already tasted success with Bidvest Wits at the start of the season in the Telkom Knockout before making a switch to the Team of Choice in January.
Xulu is still searching for his maiden Cup success in South Africa having lifted one in 2013/14 with FC Rostov in Russia.
Apart from this trio, there’s one man who has enjoyed a decorated career, Luthuli, who started working as a kit manager in 1996/97 after failing a trial at Manning Rangers in pursuit of a playing career. But his ensuing kit career has seen him winning numerous medals, and lifting trophies.
“In 1996/97 I won the league with Manning Rangers. From there I went to Santos where I won the Bob Save Super Bowl in 2000/01. I also won the league the following year with Gordon Igesund at Santos. At Santos I won the BP Top 8 and the Absa Cup. In 2003/04, I was the losing finalist with Rangers as we succumbed 3-1 against Moroka Swallows. In 2002 I worked for Bafana Bafana as a kit manager in the World Cup in Japan/Korea, “ Luthuli, who joined the Team of Choice in 2004/05, reminisced this past week.
“I’m excited more than anyone right now. I'll be finishing my 14th season here in Maritzburg. I’ve experienced all the up and downs in this team which includes relegation. I joined the club when it bought the status of Thembisa Classic and then we got relegated. After we got promoted from the National First Division we’ve always been the relegation candidates. Now we have to win this trophy. This is going to be the best medal. It will surpass all the other medals I’ve won,“ Luthuli exclaimed.
And how does he feel about United coach Fadlu Davids' heroics with the club?
“Fadlu Davids joined us as a player when I was working at the club. But even before he arrived here we met. The suburb that I was living in in Cape Town when I was working for Santos, Fadlu was also staying in the area. I used to see him as small boy in the street and he is now my coach. I have that respect for him because he is my head coach. He is my senior, and I have to respect him. Fadlu surprised me. He learned a lot from Ernst Middendorp but he is different to him. He is very calm. Planning well is one of his key strengths."
Luthuli’s duties include keeping the jerseys clean, set up the change-room, ensure that the match balls are ready and that the referee is looked after.
“ Using Umuthi, it is something that does happen in football. We did those things when Steve Komphela and Mandla Ncikazi were around. There was a season where it was difficult for us to win and Mandla said we must talk to Steve and try our luck. We didn’t consult with the club; we went straight ahead and found someone who came and assisted us. We wanted something to believe in. When we survived relegation on the last day two seasons back we used to go to churches with the club bag in our search for luck. We were trying everything. But this has been a stress-free season, as the boys are playing such good football.
“ A cup final is a big occasion. There’s that feeling that you can’t escape. Training at the match venue is a unique feeling. That is going to be another motivation for the boys. The atmosphere changes in the final. We will travel wearing suits. After all it a Cup final, not just a normal game.”