Former Bafana Bafana defender Jacob "Asinamali" Tshisevhe says some players were not welcoming at Kaizer Chiefs when he arrived at the club.
Tshisevhe, who lives in Rustenburg, played in the strong Amakhosi defence that included Neil Tovey, Lucas Rabebe, Ntsie Maphike, Howard Freeze and Rudolf Seale for almost a decade.
“To wear that Chiefs jersey, you had to work hard to satisfy the coach, players, management and supporters and it was hard,” he said.
“Specially when you find there was a group of people who were playing together and are already established and close. That thing of groups was there and that’s how it was at that time.
“You can’t force someone to be your friend if he doesn’t want it. I know what is happening now but that thing of groups was there because some players came from Soweto and you are from Rustenburg.
“The treatment sometimes was not nice because some senior players see you as a young player and they are threatened. That is why you find the treatment is sometimes not nice.
“If you ask other players, they will tell you the same story because that’s how it was and you needed to be strong to be part of the team.”
He also spoke about the shock he experienced when it was reported he was dead, how people judge him in the community as a former footballer and working with coaches Paul Dolezar, Augusto Palacios and Muhsin Ertugral.
He said he was saddened by the way he left Chiefs to briefly join Sundowns and spoke about the excitement of playing in countless Soweto derbies.
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