JOHANNESBURG – Jeremy Brockie wore an evil grin in response to the question of what it would mean for him to open his Mamelodi Sundowns’ account tomorrow against his former club SuperSport United.
The New Zealand forward has gone 14 matches without finding the back of the net in the league.
Brockie last scored against Platinum Stars in September last year, going from a deadly sniper to being a broken water pistol.
He struggled to find the back of the net at Matsatsantsa a Pitori because he was frustrated that the club was playing hardball towards Sundowns who were after his services. His move eventually happened in January and it has taken time for him to get into the same wavelength as his new teammates.
He is hoping that being in a familiar environment, at Lucas Moripe Stadium, against familiar faces, will help him end his goal drought.
“It would be very nice (to score against SuperSport),” Brockie said, followed by a loud laugh that sounded like that of a villain in an action movie. “I am looking forward to going back and playing against the boys on the weekend.
“Hopefully a big crowd turns up in Atteridgeville. It would be very nice to hit the back of the net for the first time for Sundowns against the old club. I have kept in touch with a couple of the boys, Reyaad (Pieterse), (Dean) Furman and Thuso (Phala). They are looking forward to the game, and they are giving me a lot of support as well during this drought.
It’s a matter of time before the first one hits the back of the net. I have to give a special mention to the Sundowns’ fans, even though I had a couple of chances that I didn’t put in the back of the net (against Free State Stars) they still cheered and supported me. I thank them for that.”
The question then is will he celebrate should he score against his former club, a team that brought him to South Africa which has become home for him and his family - especially his two children who are Siphiwe Tshabalala fans and can sing the national anthem?
“Looking at the celebrations at Sundowns (with the dance moves), I still need to do a little bit of work. But I like to celebrate every goal I score. Yes I have good memories with SuperSport but now I am in a new journey. I will celebrate goals like I do every other time.”
Brockie should have opened his account in the 1-1 draw with Ea Lla Koto on Wednesday at Loftus Versfeld. The Kiwi had two good chances that he fluffed which could see self-doubt creep into his game.
“You just have to stay positive,” Brockie said. “With the positive energy that the boys are giving me, I am still confident in my own ability of being able to score goals.
I know that as a striker you are going to miss chances and then you are probably going to score one after charging at a defender and the ball hits you on the face and it goes in. It’s probably one of those ones that will be my first goal. I’ll take that at the moment.”
Brockie continued, “The good thing is that the club isn’t only dependant on me for goals. The best teams in football don’t rely on one player for goals. If you look around our team, Percy (Tau) scores, Vila (Sibusiso Vilakazi) scores, Khama (Billiat) scores, everyone scores. To be able to share that workload definitely eases the pressure on everyone in the starting XI. But it would be nice to get off the mark soon.”