In the latest edition of our feature Kit Manager, KickOff catches up with former Orlando Pirates kitman Pule Sithebe who reminisces about his time at the Buccaneers.
Who am I...
"I'm known as Pule Sithebe. I'm from Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal. I worked for Orlando Pirates for a long time, 23 years to be precise. I used to play for All Nations in Dobsonville, when one day we played against Witbank Aces, Veli Mahlangu was still in charge. That's where the chairman [Irvin Khoza] saw me. But unfortunately, I couldn't play for Pirates due to an injury. But because he was taken back by the way I performed for All Nations against Aces he decided to make me the Pirates kit man."
My club...
"I only worked at Orlando Pirates."
Coaches I've worked with...
"I've worked with many of them, Kosta Papic, Ronald Mkandawire, Viktor Bondarenko, Gordon Igesund, Augusto Palacios. I don't want to lie, I enjoyed working with all these coaches because I was passionate about my job this thing. I didn't have a problem with any coach."
The hardest working player...
"Gift Leremi and Lesley Manyathela. They always used to stay behind at training. And I didn't have a problem staying behind with them after training because as a kit man, you need to be a father to the players. So as a father, you can't deny your child an opportunity to better himself. If he wants to be the first one at training, you must also be there because you want to see him reaching greater heights."
Most talented player I've watched...
"Senzo Meyiwa [laughs], he was crazy and talented at the same time. Sometimes he would do unbelievable things, he loved his job, and he enjoyed what he was doing. Before every training session, he would ask the guys to shoot balls at him. He was serious about his job. You see if in Mzansi we had more people like him we could be far by now. He was the best. In life passion is everything."
Talents who disappeared...
"The late Gift Leremi and Lesley Manyathela those guys were still young. I don't know where football could have taken them today as I'm speaking to you. Those guys were very good I don't want to lie. But we can't question God's ways."
What my day looks like...
"From the first day, I started at Orlando Pirates until I stopped, I was the first one to arrive at training. I'd prepare everything way before the players and coaches arrived. And I was always the last one to leave. I started working at Pirates in 1999 and only stopped last year [2022]. If I had the money I would have started maybe a team and coached young boys. At the moment I'm back home in KZN, but I have not retired I'm still physically strong enough to be a kit manager. If I can get a job elsewhere, I will take it. I can still work. Remember I have a lot of experience in this job."
Bizarre player requests...
"Remember you need to be smart when usebenza ngomuntu. A human being will always be a problem. You always need to be two steps ahead. Just play with his mind he is a young boy [laughs]. You know sometimes you would forget something that belongs to a player and only realise that when you are already at the stadium. Do you know what you should do? Don't wait until he gets to the stadium, give him a call while he is still at the hotel and explain everything. Don't wait until he gets to the stadium because he will shout at you 'Hey man bring my stuff!' You know how players are. You need to be streetwise as a kit manager and not only be good at carrying balls. You need to help these boys grow. The kit manager understands these boys more than anybody else in a club. They must understand once it's time to work it's time to work."