|
|
Botswana: The 'Teenage' Returns As 'Malome'
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
13 March 2008
Posted to the web 13 March 2008
Chippa Legodimo
When he started as a young striker in the 1990s, Extension Gunners' fans called him 'Teenage' after Kaizer Chiefs' legend Teenage Dladla.
But nowadays David Tsalaile is affectionately known as 'Malome Davor' by Gunners' faithful. To them he is not just another Gunners' player. He is an experienced leader capable of assuming the responsibility of an uncle in the Gunners' family. It is for this reason that after his suspension last year amid accusations that he was a bad influence to younger players, fans started accusing management of deliberately bringing down the club.
During the suspension, fans asked questions but got no answers, hence they made their own conclusions. Some assumed that the 35-year-old had decided to hang up his boots.
Others thought he had a problem with the technical department and he decided to abscond. But the truth of the matter is that Tsalaile was suspended indefinitely after he questioned some decisions of the management. Precisely he had questioned the firing of former coach Fewdays Musonda who was succeeded by Clever Hunda. Attempts to try to get back into the team during Hunda's short spell did not bear fruit.
So the arrival of Daniel 'Chicco' Nare signalled the dawn of a new era. Finally, he got a chance to reclaim his spot in the Gunners' rearguard. But once again, the move sparked another debate. Some fans argued that Tsalaile is too old to make any impact at the Lobatse side. Others contended that his experience is valuable as the club once again fights relegation. But the ageing striker-turned- defender arrived just at the right time when Gunners are desperate for experience to get themselves out of the relegation zone.
|
Teammate and striker Tiroyamodimo 'TRX' Mohambi is delighted at the return of the veteran defender. He believes that once again, Tsalaile will play a major role in helping Gunners avoid relegation.
"He is an experienced, committed player. A role model both on and off the field. All the players listen carefully when he gives advice because we all know that he has played football for a long time. He organises all the departments including the front line and helps me as a striker because he has played in that position before," Mohambi said.
He asserted that with Tsalaile in the team, younger players are relieved of the pressure to concentrate on the job at hand. "He has brought shape and stability in our back line. Thulani Moyo has been used as a sweeper when he is actually a man marker and Finki Mothibi has not been enjoying his forays forward because he would be concerned about counter-attacks. But this has changed because Teenage organises the defence very well. He is a good communicator," Mohambi said. Tsalaile has a wealth of experience to help Gunners out of trouble but his disciplinary record is not that good. He must stop arguing with referees. Previously, he served a suspension with former Gunners' captain Tshepo 'Talk-Talk' Motlhabankwe after a referee was attacked in a Coca-Cola match in Orapa three years ago.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 2008 Mmegi/The Reporter. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
