If there is a player in the Bafana Bafana squad who has earned the right to be addressed as a veteran, then look no further than Brian Baloyi.
Brian Baloyi
Date of birth: March 16 1974
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Mamelodi Sundowns
Nickname: Spiderman
Inspirations: Wife Phungi and son Kgosi
Favourite player: Teko Modise
Favourite club: Barcelona
Other sport: plays golf
Car: Drives an Audi S5
The 35-year-old Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper has seen it all. He was in the history-making South African squad that travelled to France for the 1998 Fifa World Cup — the country’s debut appearance in the finals. The old workhorse was the trusted pair of hands at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Locally, the player fans call Spiderman has been part of the finest club line-ups since making his professional debut in 1993 at Kaizer Chiefs. Baloyi won just about every medal and trophy on offer in his 10-year romance with the country’s most-supported team.
But after almost 350 games for Amakhosi, he made the shock move to ambitious Mamelodi Sundowns in what he described then as ”a search for a newer challenge”. His arrival at Chloorkop coincided with three titles on the trot for the Pretoria side.
Many players his age would be contemplating retirement, but he still has a few scores to settle. Top of his goals is to be in the Bafana line-up when the country hosts Africa’s first World Cup finals next year. He is halfway to seeing through this new challenge.
The Mail & Guardian caught up with the veteran at the Bafana camp on Tuesday where he opened up about his resolve to fight for a place in the 23-man squad for the Confederations Cup. Of all the positions, goalies face the fiercest battle to impress coach Joel Santana.
Baloyi is competing for the number one jersey with Ithumeleng Khune, Moeneeb Josephs and hot favourite Rowen Fernandez, who only joined camp on Monday from his base in Germany. Such is the intensity of the competition that Fernandez, who had the option of coming to camp on Monday with the rest of the foreign-based players, chose to cut short his holiday.
”Making the team will not be easy,” Baloyi said, ”but this is healthy competition. Having all of us fighting to make the last 23 has upped the stakes. I believe the hard work that we are all putting in will produce a better team. I prepared myself mentally for the competition as soon as I heard that I was in the team.”
His positive attitude despite having endured one of worst-ever seasons stems from years of experience. Frenchman Henri Michel dropped Baloyi at Sundowns in favour of Calvin Marlin. But after an injury to Michel’s choice, Baloyi grabbed the opportunity with both hands and reclaimed his place with aplomb. It was on the strength of this impressive comeback form that Santana saw value in the long-serving goalkeeper.
While some may have been surprised at his inclusion when Santana continues to snub Golden Boot-winner Richard Henyekane, Baloyi is not. ”Remember, I was only dropped from the national team when Michel arrived at Sundowns.”
The frustrating period under the Frenchman may have been a blessing in disguise. Shortly after Michel was shown the door, Baloyi was appointed to double up as an assistant coach and goalkeeper for the club.
He refuses, though, to take credit for the sudden turn in fortunes at Chloorkop as Ted Dumitru’s assistant.
”I have no intention of working as coach again and only accepted to help out because there was a crisis at the club. I am back to concentrating on playing and will consider being involved in the administration side of the game when I eventually hang up my boots.”
He has no injury worries and is determined to appear in the World Cup. ”Any football player worth his salt should dream of playing in such tournaments. Whether you are 17 or 35, if you are in the game then playing in the World Cup or Confederations Cup should be your ultimate goal.”
The weight of expectation is heavy on Bafana and the team needs to progress past the first round if it is to spare the country the blushes of being the first host not to make it past the group stages.
”We are not there to make up the numbers,” Baloyi declared. ”Personally, I’m in it to win it and believe that this should be the attitude of all South Africans.
”Fans have had over a month to criticise and say all the bad things they want about team selection, players and coaches. It is now time all 45-million of our people got behind the team.”
Bafana play Mauritius on Saturday in an international friendly that should give some indication whether Baloyi will defy age and win a place in the final 23-man squad.