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Baldwin Maimela.

Baldwin Maimela still active in football development

 

Baldwin Maimela was talkative, inquisitive, and critical in general life, but on the field of play he was described as hardworking, disciplined, and dedicated.

Maimela was captain of many teams around the area. He started playing soccer at a young age, but at school he performed well in the different disciplines on the athletics field.

His principal, Mr Nemukovha, even said he was such a talent, he would one day become the Minister of Sports.

“I did not take my soccer talent seriously at all, until my uncle, the great soccer player Christopher Maimela gave me his old soccer boots. Unfortunately, the other players did not have boots, so they forced me to take them off. We used to play on the dusty ground.”

He said that he was recruited by Pepsi the Angel under the leadership of Mr Pepsi Maraganezha. Maimela said that the team was well resourced and quickly earned respect in the province. "We played against teams such as Mahwelereng Real Rovers, and because of the way we played, Pepsi became a household name. We even reached the then OK league, and my soccer career blossomed.

“By that time, I was a student at Univen. I even played for the university team, called Univen Real TAJ, and the well-known Shayandima Bobs Stars became interested in me, because I was a regular player for the Venda national team. For the provincial squad, I played against Bafana Bafana with the likes of Michael Manzini and Gerald Raphahlele. I was the captain when we played Transnet games.” He then played along Sathiel Phasha, Toy Kutama and Marara Lukoto.

Another important time in his career was when he joined Thohoyandou ISD under Vho-Thivhonali Khorommbi. He further said that when he was still playing at ISD, he was recruited by Mr Makonde Netsianda to join Shayandima Bobs Stars. Maimela said that Bobs Stars contested for promotion to the elite league for quite some years but missed it by an inch. Later, the management of the team bought the status of Lenasia Dynamos.

He said that after some years, the team was bought by Peter Rabali and the team managed to gain promotion to play in the Premier league (PSL), where he was coached by a number of coaches: Owen da Gama, Walter Rautmann, Martius Muenda, Sheppard Morape, and Takov from Bulgaria. He said he had recruited players such as the late Lesley Manyathela and Selby Chauke.

He said he also played together with Botende Eshele, Martin Zwane, Arthur Zwane, Jabulani Mendu and international players from Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria. By that time, he was the captain of the team. After being relegated, the team was sold to a Giyani tycoon, Mr Pat Mabaela.

Maimela left the team and was then recruited to join Vhembe FC and worked with Mr Eddy Masia. The team was bought by Mr Shandu Nesengani and changed the name to FC Basel, and he became the team manager. He said he retired from soccer and concentrated on school soccer, as that was where he realised that the youth needed serious guidance because they were growing up in a different environment. “They keep things simple, but dedication to sports does lack. Soccer is so highly commercialised, the players’ focus is on quick money, and one thing that I feel disturbed about is that the players move regularly between different teams. That is confusing the fans,” he added.

He urged young players to work hard and to stay away from drugs and illegal actions, as it will hamper their careers.

 

Sport - Date: 29 May 2020

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Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

Email: [email protected]

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