Mntambo names Thabang Monare as best team-mate of playing career

Retired midfielder Linda Mntambo has named former Orlando Pirates team-mate Thabang Monare as the best player he shared a dressing room with during his decade-long career.

Mntambo recently announced his retirement after representing Jomo Cosmos, Chippa United, Orlando Pirates and Sekhukhune United. His professional journey also included a spell with Roses United, where his relationship with Monare began in less friendly circumstances.

The two midfielders later became team-mates at Jomo Cosmos, Orlando Pirates and Sekhukhune United, while also developing a close friendship away from football. Monare is affectionately known as ‘Dash’, while Mntambo is known as Figo.

In an interview with iDiski Times journalist Lethabo Kganyago, Mntambo explained why Monare stood out above the other players he worked with.

“It has to be Thabang Monare,” Mntambo told iDiski Times when asked who his best teammate was.

The former midfielder said their early encounters were marked by regular disagreements, partly because of the different roles they occupied on the pitch.

“One thing I think about me and him is we started off on a bad note. When I was at Roses United, he was at Cosmos, and me being an attacking midfielder, and at Cosmos I think he was more of a defensive midfielder.

“We fought so many times, and then we happened to be teammates at Cosmos. I remember the first camp, me and him were roommates when I got there, and I played with him at Cosmos for so many seasons, played with him at Pirates, and then later he also joined me at Sekhukhune.

“So, him and I have always shared this brotherhood, and then we are age mates and have so many things in common. I always joke with Dash that maybe my dad got up to no good (laughs) because he’s from Mpumalanga.

“He’s one of the most humorous teammates I’ve ever had. Fashion sense, me and him complement each other, and then we were born in the same year. Quite a lot that me and him share, so I think one of the best teammates I ever had.”

Mntambo said the pair’s connection grew after they moved from opponents to team-mates at Cosmos. Their time together continued over several seasons before they reunited at Orlando Pirates and later at Sekhukhune United.

He also highlighted their shared age, similar interests and complementary fashion sense, while describing Monare as one of the funniest team-mates he encountered during his career.

The complete interview with Mntambo and Kganyago is available in edition 269 of iDiski Times. Readers can access it by subscribing for free to the publication’s media WhatsApp number.