Vosloorus’ finest soccer-star Kagiso Thabiso ‘Kalawa Jazmee’ Senamela says ‘soccer saved his life’
By Matampane Raymond Mokwena
One of Vosloorus’ finest soccer-star Kagiso Thabiso ‘Kalawa Jazmee’ Senamela states that soccer saved his life and to a large extent through his talent he wanted to change his family’s life.“If it wasn’t for soccer I could’ve been in prison or died a long time ago but because my passion for soccer seemed stronger than anything i opted to go for it from a young age when I was only thirteen (13) years old in Vosloorus.“I began playing soccer in one of the famous soccer ground called ‘C’ for a team called Blue Birds FC and i later joined Classic FC which fueled my passion tremendously, I then moved to Bidvest Wits FC after missing out the date of their soccer trials, the following day I arrived and claimed to have participated in their trials which showed how much I was willing to sacrifice to follow my passion, fortunately I was allowed to train for the club and the rest was history,” he expressed in appreciation.
He further shared, saying I want to clarify on how soccer saved my life: “Everytime after school or even before after school I would take a taxi to the Bidvest Wits FC soccer grounds, so that led me to be rare in the Township because I was now returning in the evening and most of my friends at that particular time found themselves involved in illegal activities that even cost some of them their lives and others were imprisoned during that period, most of the time when I sit down and think about it I realise that if it was not for soccer I could’ve been part of the life defiling activities,” he shared in deep thoughts.However he adamantly disclosed, stating that: “I only learned about life through soccer and for me losing soccer meant losing my life; but I was severely disappointed with myself in 2010 because I was selected within the 23 players who were supposed to represent the South African National team, but I lost my composure as a player due to other extra activities that were happening in my life, being a good soccer player exposes you to a lot of people and some of them are not soccer players; what happens is that you subliminal adopt to their ways of life by going with them to places of pleasures and that affects your training schedule, so I advise other aspiring soccer players to avoid that by strictly focusing on their training schedule and applying themselves more in soccer,” he advised.
The soccer-star who still plays for Mamelodi Sundowns FC’s B team delightfully mentioned that other than all the setbacks, he has played for a wide range of teams and genuinely appreciates that, and also highlighted his soccer career journey, revealing that: “After coming back from representing the under seventeen(17) South African National team my former coach at Bidvest Wits FC Floyd Mogale who joined Kaizer Chiefs FC’s development side called me up to join him immediately after being part of the team and then I was signed with the Kaizer Chiefs FC’s first team but I was later loaned to Amazulu FC and at my new home I was swapped for Mabhuti Khenyeza who was with Golden Arrows, from there I moved overseas to a Turkey team called Ankaragucu FC; unfortunately the team was sold after three months of my arrival, I then returned to Amazulu FC and later joined Polokwane FC for three months.“At this current time i play for Mamelodi Sundowns FC’s B team, I hope God will give me an opportunity to form my own soccer academy in Vosloorus and through that I hope to revive all the soccer tournaments that used to give school children a chance to showcase their soccer talents, like the KFC and Chappies leagues,” Senamela concluded.
