Steve Komphela’s love of Rick Ross revealed by former goalkeeper Tshepo Motsoeneng

Former South African goalkeeper Tshepo Motsoeneng has recalled the music, characters and unusual rituals that shaped dressing-room life during his playing career, including Steve Komphela’s unlikely role as a DJ at Free State Stars.

Motsoeneng, who played for clubs including SuperSport United and AmaZulu FC, now works as a coach in the ABC Motsepe League. He said Calvin Kadi and Katlego Mphela regularly chose the music at SuperSport United, while Bongi Macala the Nigga did so at Santos.

At Free State Stars, however, the playlist was controlled by then-coach Komphela.

“Funny enough, at Free State Stars it was our coach Steve Komphela,” Motsoeneng said. “That man loved Rick Ross, and also our teammate Paulos Masehe who loved Lil Wayne.”

Looking back at his time in the PSL, Motsoeneng named Shoes Moshoeu as AmaZulu’s best-dressed player. He said most of the squad had little knowledge of fashion and relied on clothes from shops such as Truworths.

The dressing rooms also had no shortage of entertainers. At SuperSport United, Ricardo Katza was known for removing his false teeth, while Erwin Isaacs – nicknamed “Appels” – did the same at Santos.

Veli Mothwa was another memorable character at Chippa, Motsoeneng said, adding that he still found it hard to believe Mothwa is now a goalkeeper coach. Mbuyiselo Sambu also stood out because of a laugh Motsoeneng described as sounding like an old man.

“Pa” Gaxa, “Yuki” Masina and Calvin Kadi were identified as the players who spent the most time preparing in front of the mirror. Motsoeneng said they looked after their skin, smelled good and were always well presented.

One of the strangest rituals he witnessed came during only his second match for AmaZulu, against SuperSport United in Atteridgeville. Teammate Tshimanga, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, brought a traditional healer from Congo into the dressing room.

The man produced a used piece of toilet paper and told the players: “Do you see this tissue? The red stuff you see it’s a blood from a woman’s menstruation. You touch this tissue nothing will happen to you guys.”

AmaZulu lost the match 2-0. Motsoeneng said he had seen respected players such as Shoes Moshoeu touch the tissue and felt unable to refuse.

He described Komphela and Gavin Hunt as the most intimidating coaches during halftime speeches. Komphela used complex wordplay, he said, and could be particularly demanding of Luyolo Nomandela. Motsoeneng would sometimes intervene, while Hunt was direct with players he felt were not good enough.

Motsoeneng also recalled fans warning players they might not leave a match safely, only for officials to expose several problems with a team during their inspection.

Mbuyiselo Sambu and Moeketsi Mvula were the loudest snorers on away trips, alongside an AmaZulu player from Guinea whose snoring sounded “like a chainsaw”.

Romano Scott was the fiercest competitor at cards and PlayStation and could become involved in a physical fight after losing. The toughest strikers Motsoeneng faced in training were Katlego Mashego and Katlego Mphela.

Phikolethu Spelman was the player most likely to borrow toothpaste and toiletries, while Denis Onyango played that role at SuperSport United.