My Starter Pack

SL PODCAST | Podcast , ±7 min episodes every 1 week, 3 days |

From the player's first set of boots to their first paycheck, My Starter Pack is a show all about the firsts that mark a player's career.

In each episode, we speak to a footballer about their early career, such as what their first car was and how they got it, what their first paycheque was, how they spent and more. It goes beyond the football to show the human side of the soccer players.

ENGLISH South Africa Sports · SoccerSoccer Laduma Radio

OCT

Bhasera Reflects On Career Of Highs And Lows

9 min

Onismor Bhasera's career has seen him score a Goal-of-the-Season goal in England suffer an own goal and injury on the same day! From humble beginnings in Zimbabwe to the PSL and English League One, Bhasera gives us an inside view.

SEP

That Time Komphela Took Mothwa For Lunch

6 min

Veli Mothwa shares the first that mark his career, from his first live football match to his PSL Debut. He speaks about the progression for his career, who he looks up, and his experiences with his teammates.

Cadbury FC #TasteTheAction: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/taste_the_action

SEP

'We Were Like His Children'

8 min

Four-Time Absa Premiership champion Morgan Gould join the SL Podcast’s “My Starter Pack” to discuss his early life and career, during which he witnessed his father playing top-flight football, and later joined Jomo Cosmos’ youth setup. He would later feature for Jomo Cosmos’ senior team over the space of seven years before joining SuperSport United. Gould discussed how Jomo Sono treats his players like family.

“It’s a very good institution, it teaches you a lot of things. It was more like father and kids you know? We were his [children]. Helped us as if we were his kids. To the Sono family, big ups to them. They created so many [stars] before me, they continued to create stars after me. He’s got the knack for finding talent, identifying it and polishing a stone until it’s a diamond”, Gould stated in the interview.

The 37-Year-Old free agent also discusses his PSL debut, first professional paycheck and more.

AUG

Kuda Mahachi’s First Pay Check Was $20!

6 min

SuperSport United forward Kudakwache Mahachi’s first wage as a professional was surprisingly low. He joined Matsatsantsa in 2019 after stints at Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Golden Arrows. He has also represented Zimbabwe at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Speaking to SL Radio on the My Starter Pack podcast, the 26-year-old discusses his journey to the Premier Soccer League, as his footballing idols, and who he would pick for his ultimate 5-a-side team!

Since leaving Highlanders FC, Mahachi has enjoyed success in the PSL, having featured in over 100 fixtures and scoring 17 times. However, his first paycheque likely pales in comparison to his current contract. As discussed in the podcast, he earned only $20 in his first payment arrangement, before moving on to greener pastures.

AUG

Fielies Bought His First Car From Cape Rival!

8 min

Cape Town City defender Taariq Fielies joined SL Radio’s My Starter Pack podcast for a trip down memory lane, discussing some interesting facts about his early playing career. During the latest episode, the 28-Year-Old details his journey through the Ajax Cape Town ranks to his PSL debut and also reveals his first professional pay cheque amount along with which car he purchased to stop relying on taxis.

“I actually bought [my first car] from a teammate, because I was tired of stealing taxis so me and [him], at that time he was still Ajax, we came to an agreement. So I bought the car by him, it was a Polo GTI, it was black but as years went on it started to turn grey,” Fielies revealed. That player now plays Cape Town City’s local rivals, Stellenbosch FC.

AUG

'My Idol Was Ronaldo... The Real Ronaldo'

7 min

While he was growing up in the North-West, Maritzburg United star Daylon Claasen had no idea how much of a journey football would take him on, from his father’s team to the Netherlands & Germany. In some ways, his journey mirrors that of that his idol, Ronaldo De Lima. Not to be confused with Cristiano Ronaldo, De Lime - like Claasen - played for seven different teams on two continents. Claasen had high praise for the Brazilian legend when chatting on SL Radio’s My Starter Pack podcast.

“At that time, Beckham was still good, Zidane was also on the scene and [then it was] Ronaldo, the real Ronaldo. [I had to choose] between Ronaldo and Kaka,” Claasen stated. When asked who the greatest player of all time is, the 30-Year-Old forward stuck to his guns continuing, “Ronaldo, the real Ronaldo, in his prime before he injured his knee. Remember at the World Cup when everyone was around him? ’98 World Cup, 2002 World Cup, he is my all-time GOAT. If only people knew how good he was before he hurt his knee; that guy was unbelievable.”

AUG

'Lorch Gave Me Nightmares' - Edmilson Dove

12 min

Edmilson Dove was given a trial by fire when he made his pre-season debut for Cape Town City FC in 2016 and had to defend one of the nation’s most talented wingers. Dove spoke on SL Radio’s 'My Starter Pack' about how he had to adjust to South Africa’s brand of football. In his interview, he details how Thembinkosi Lorch caused him problems in a friendly match before the start of the 2016/17 Absa Premiership season.

“I remember we had a friendly match before my PSL debut, [it was] against Chippa when Lorch was still playing there. I think that’s the guy that gave me nightmares in that friendly match, I said ‘alright, welcome to South Africa Edmilson Dove’. The tempo of the game was just insane, it was something that I wasn’t used to, you know? In my country, we don’t have as fast players as you have here in South Africa, and also the quality of the pitch allows the ball to travel [quickly].”

JUL

'You'll Never Guess Macheke’s First PSL Paycheck...'

7 min

Bidvest Wits defender Zitha Macheke journey in the PSL has been full of ups & downs, from his first full season in the PSL ending in Absa Premiership glory with Kaizer Chiefs to fighting for promotion with Thanda Royal Zulu (now Richards Bay FC) the very next season.

The 26-year-old defender is now aiming for Nedbank Cup with Wits and joined SL Radio’s My Starter Pack podcast to reminisce on his early days.

Discussing his first full contract, Macheke talks about graduating from Amakhosi’s development system and then going on to face his own team in his PSL debut! Before moving on from Chiefs, Macheke had the experience of seeing his team win the PSL title. “I think it was a great moment for me, being introduced into the big league and then all of a sudden, you’re part of a group who wins [the] championship,” Macheke recalls, “Even though I didn’t play, I learned a lot. It pushed in becoming a winner because when I was introduced in the game, I was introduced in a championship environment.”

In his interview, Macheke also speaks about his first car, his first agent and his pick for the 'Greatest Player of All Time'.

JUL

'I Was Praying To Get Silverware In SA'

6 min

SuperSport United forward Evans Rusike’s time in the PSL has been quite a journey. After transferring to Maritzburg United from Zimbabwe Saints in 2015, Rusike’s first full season in the Absa Premiership saw him face a relegation battle against the University of Pretoria & Jomo Cosmos. Needing a victory to guarantee survival, Rusike scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to save Maritzburg United’s top-flight status.

Three years later, the Zimbabwe international added MTN8 Champion to his list of achievements. “That was the highlight of the season for me, man. I always wanted to win something here in South Africa. I was just praying and pushing just to get some silverware here. I was so happy, I was over the moon that I won something in the PSL,” Rusike told SL Radio on the My Starter Pack Podcast.

The 30-Year-Old has always been one for the big occasion and spoke candidly about his perfect international debut: “I remember my first debut. It was at home when we were playing Comoros, it was a CHAN qualifier, and I managed to score in that game.”

JUN

From Bulawayo to TKO Champion - Chipezeze Looks Back

8 min

Baroka FC goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze spoke to SL Radio about getting scouted as a youngster and how it lead to him joining Bristol City Juniors in 2004. “I was playing in the school team, and there was this other guy who was coming to watch the football games" Chipezeze recalls, "[when] he saw me, he just told me straight up; ‘you must come and join my team.'"

“At first I didn’t take it seriously, I thought it was just fun, you know?” Chipezeze explains, “But, he convinced me, then I went and started playing and then another guy from Bristol City came and told me to join his team. You know as a youngster you just want to be seen. So I had to move from my first junior club to Bristol City.”

He also reveals how his move to the PSL came about. “After my second award for Goalkeeper of the Season in the Zimbabwean league, it came into my mind that I’ve been playing here for about 4-5 seasons, now I think I need a better challenge. I had to sit down with my agent, and that’s when the offer from Baroka came”. He would go on to win the Telkom Knockout title in his first season, the first major title in the Club’s history.

JUN

“They Told Me That I Was Too Skinny”

8 min

n the latest edition of My Starter Pack, SuperSport United Midfielder Teboho Mokoena recalls getting scouted as a youngster by primary school teacher Charles Molefe, and how he played every position before settling on central. “Actually I played every position, I was a striker, I was a center-back, I was a right-back, left-back, left-wing, I’ve played everywhere”, Mokoena reveals to SL Radio. He also dishes on his time at Harmony Sports Academy, which lead directly to him being scouted by SuperSport United.

“[When] I got scouted, we were playing at the Coca Cola [initiative] I think in 2012, in Bloemfontein” explains Mokoena, “When I got there I was too skinny, even the guys were laughing at me, they said ‘Ay Bra, you’re too skinny but you’ve got a big foot’”. The 23-Year-Old also dishes on his relationship with former Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter, who is responsible for handing Mokoena both his PSL & international debuts.

MAY

Richard Ofori “I Used To Steal My Mom’s Money…”

15 min

In the latest edition of My Starter Pack on SL Radio, Maritzburg United Goalkeeper Richard Ofori reminisces about stealing his mom’s money so that he could travel with local football teams in Ghana. He also recalls his debut for the Ghana u20 national team. He details his first start for “The Black Satellites” which came in the 3rd/4th place off match in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and how he managed to keep Ghana’s first clean sheet of the tournament in a 3-0 victory over Iraq.

“I was just thinking ‘God Help Me’” says Ofori, as he only found out about his selection in the side four hours before kick-off. His performance was a sign of things to come, as the shot-stopper has gone on to feature in 2 Africa Cup Of Nations tournaments for the senior team, and has now been their preferred number 1 for three years.

The 26 Year Old also describes life growing up in Ghana and how he became interested in playing football at a young age.