In this edition of Locker Room Secrets, former Zimbabwean international Innocent Chikoya reflects on his time at Orlando Pirates.
What was the camaraderie like in the Pirates change room?
"You truly understand the magnitude of the club and how it operates once you sit down with the chairman, Dr. Irvin Khoza, and he starts sharing the history of the club with you, even before you step into the change room.
"The brotherhood among the players was incredible, it taught me a lot about the club's culture.
"We had Guy Roger Nzeng, Thomas Inguana, Denis Lota, and other foreigners in the team, and all the local players came together under one umbrella, speaking one language. There was a strong sense of brotherhood."
Who was always late?
"We didn't really have latecomers because we had a group of dedicated and disciplined players. Under Augusto Palacios, you were expected to arrive an hour and thirty minutes early before every training session. Otherwise, you would face heavy fines. So, nobody wanted to see their salary reduced, and being late for training was simply not in our vocabulary."
Did you or any of your teammates have any interesting rituals before games?
"No, we didn't have anyone doing their own thing. We always followed what the club required us to do as a team."
Who was the jokester?
"It was Steve Lekoelea. He used to imitate everyone—how they spoke, how they walked... It was hilarious. He loved mimicking Augusto. Even today, Steve hasn't changed, he still does those things."
Was it a muti change room?
"Every club has its own practices, and to be honest, most clubs do use muti. They believe it will bring them results or protect their players. So, I can't deny that."
Who was the singer?
"We had Chillies (Thabang Lebese), Pollen Ndlanya, and Chippa Lekoelea in that department. We had some real characters."
Who was the best-dressed?
"Pollen Ndlanya. He was always smartly dressed. 'Trompies' was always looking sharp in his outfits."