I’solezwe lesiXhosa lincokole nomlandeli we-Orlando Pirates ngezinto angazithandanga nezinye anqwenela izilungise phambi kokuphela kwale sizini ka-2017/18.
Pedro Mapelo: Molo Mhlekazi, unjani?
Umlandeli: Molo Bhuti. Kuhle, kunjani kuwe?
PM: Ndiyaphila, enkosi. Gqaba-gqaba, khawuzichaze kubafundi bephepha.
Umlandeli: Igama lam ndinguSimthembile Mqonde. Ndihlala kwindawo yaseChris Hani, eMthatha. Ndingumlandeli we-Orlando Pirates.
PM: Waqala nini ukuba ngumlandeli weBucs?
Simthembile Mqonde: Ndaqala phaya koo-1997. Sasisebancinci ngezo ntsuku sidlala ibhola. Into eyayixhaphakile yayikukuthiyana ngamagama wabadlali abaziwayo. KwiPirates kwakukho uSteve Lekolea nabanye abadlali ababedume kakhulu. Enye yezinto eyanditsalayo apha kwiPirates kukuphumelela kwayo iCaf Champions League kwaye nomgangatho wayo wawuphezulu.
PM: Yeyiphi eyona nto ongasoze uyilibale njengomlandeli weBucs?
SM: Eyona sizini engazange ibentle yeka-2004. IPirates yayidlala ibhola ephucukileyo – kodwa ekugqibeleni zange kubekho nto eyizuzayo phantsi kukaCosta Papic. Nasemva kwakhe kwahamba ixesha singafumani nto – lelona xesha lakhe lalibi kuthi balandeli elo.
PM: Unqwenela kwenzeke ntoni kwiPirates kule sizini?
SM: Eyi! iPirates ayiqhubi kakuhle ngamanye amaxesha – kodwa ayimbanga xa uyithelekisa nesizini egqithileyo. Ingxaki enayo ngoku kukungakwazi ukufaka amagowuli. Yona idlala umdlalo omhle kwaye nasemva isadlala ngcono. Umqeqeshi ungase alungise phaya ezipalini ke ngoku.
PM: Ngubani umdlali omthandayo, kuba kutheni?
SM: Yoh, ndibathanda bonke abadlali bePirates – kodwa ndingathi nguNtsikelelo Nyauza. UNyauza ngomnye wabadlali abaqaqambileyo kule sizini kwaye umdlalo wakhe uphucukile.
Silungiselela ukukhusela indebe yethu kwiWafcon, utsho uDesiree Ellis