In this edition of "Story Behind My Nickname," KickOff catches up with former Moroka Swallows hardman Goodman Hlongwane to delve into the origin of his nickname, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly."
Hlongwane reflects on his playing days, emphasising that a football pitch was no place for the faint-hearted.
What's your nickname?
Hlongwane: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. I hold the record for the longest nickname in South African football history."
Who gave it to you, and why?
Hlongwane: "I received it from the fans. Nicknames should come from the fans. On the field of play, I was involved in good, bad, and ugly actions. That's why I was given the nickname. I was still with Swallows. I used to defend well, sometimes in an ugly manner. In our days, we played rough and gave our all. We didn't tolerate any nonsense."
Did you like it?
Hlongwane: "You always get your nickname from the supporters, so yes, I liked it. I was a different person on the field compared to off it. Emotions ran high, facing troublesome strikers who ran the entire match. As a defender, concentration was crucial throughout the game."
Did anyone not use it?
Hlongwane: "No, even today, everyone still calls me 'The Goodies.'"
If you could relive it, what would you want your nickname to be?
Hlongwane: "As someone who was mostly good, I would have preferred 'The Goodies.' In the past, our players had nicknames. Nowadays, I don't know if the talent has declined or if supporters have lost interest. We mostly rely on TV highlights these days, not watching the entire game, and the standard of our players has dropped."