Whose locker room are we in today?
In this edition of My Locker Room Secrets, former Orlando Pirates, Manning Rangers and SuperSport United goalkeeper Grant Johnson reveals all his locker room secrets.
Who was always late?
"Steve Lekoelea at Orlando Pirates. Gordon Igesund would send him to train on his own. His excuses were a car broke down, traffic, and the alarm didn't go off. Always something new."
Any interesting ritual before they played?
"Not Steve. But Thabo Mngomeni would have 8-10 slices of bread with lunch. He had whatever was on the menu but had to have his bread. Gordon used to say 'How can you run with all that bread?'
Who was the jokester?
"Mark Davies at Manning Rangers. We always had tricks for new players or debutants. Once I had to show a player a picture in the room, Mark was in the washing basket under the picture and would jump out while the player was focusing on the picture. Huge fright."
Was it a muti changeroom?
"At two of the clubs yes. Some of the traditions were crazy. From fires in the changeroom to cutting knees and elbows with razor blades and playing with wet jerseys that had been soaked in muti."
Who was the singer?
"There were various singers with different teams, Japie Motale would always get the change room going at SuperSport United."
Who was the best dressed and worst dressed?
"I think all the players thought they were the best dressed but there were a few who were fashionable. Warren Lewis [At Pirates] always had the latest sunglasses. Pollen Ndlanya and Godfrey Sapula were always well-dressed.
Worst dressed were some of the outfits worn by the foreigners. Friday Roberts and Liswa Nduti. Especially the blingy shoes bought at the flea market. It seems it's a thing with them to wear blingy multi-coloured shoes and takkies. Even the players today. And you see they buy the cheap ones that are supposed to be expensive.
Who never showered?
"I don't recall any players not showering. But the new younger players would shower in their undies. I suppose they were shy of being naked alongside the senior players."
Rate the coach's team talk...
"Gordon used to go crazy at half-time, foaming at the mouth and kicking over cooler boxes. He once hurt his toe doing so.
Pitso Mosimane would always compare us to Champions League players in Europe and that we had to watch and emulate them."
