Johannesburg - They don’t make them like Thabo September anymore.Talented, dedicated, determined, focused, humble, friendly, charismatic, eloquent, rational... the list goes on.
September, the veteran SuperSport United defender, who gave his all to Matsatsantsa a Pitori, is deserving of something special as he bids farewell to the game after a colourful career that spanned over a decade.
There’s no better way for September than to march off the pitch for the last time with a gold medal around his neck. The possibility is there. That’s if September and his teammates triumph over Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sadturday.
“It will be a god way to end a career,” said September, who made his debut back in 2005 for Bush Bucks. It was at SuperSport, under the tutelage of Pitso Mosimane, that September’s talents were noticed by many. He put in solid performances at right-back and centre-back and he went on to captain Matsatsantsa a Pitori.
September won six trophies - three Absa Premiership titles, the Absa Cup, the Nedbank Cup and the Telkom Knockout. In fact September is the last remaining member of the team that rose to prominence under Mosimane.
Other players have since moved on or retired. September ascribes his longevity to the respect he accorded the game.
“Be professional. Treat the game with respect. Treat the people around you with respect and it will reward you. Be committed to what you do, I think that’s what has kept me going. That’s what has made people trust me. I stuck to the job and knew what I had to do. I love the job. It was not just a job or a game for me. It was something that I loved,” said the 33-year-old.
Despite his efforts in helping SuperSport to trophies, the veteran defender never really had a shot at Bafana Bafana. He made just two appearances for the country, but doesn’t regret the minimal appearances in representing the national side.
“I was never consistently in the (SuperSport) team. The most I played for the team I think it was 24 games when we were winning the league. Other than that injuries had their impact. I am happy I managed to be capped at Bafana. It means a lot to me. I have no regrets.”
September singles out his former teammate and legendary Bafana keeper André Arendse as the best among those he played with.
“I have played with so many talented players. It was not only about talent when you look at the likes of Arendse. They were leaders all around me. They made me take the job seriously. Working with such players made me to be the person that I am today,” said September.
For September one memory shines brightest. Back in 2012, he and his SuperSport teammates won the Nedbank Cup after beating Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 at Orlando Stadium. September scored the opening goal in the 40th minute.
“It was a big win for us. We played them like we played Pirates now. We played them in our last game of the season and we played them in the final. Let’s hope for the same now as we go to the final. The feeling, well, you can never explain it. We were sending the coach Gavin Hunt and Morgan Gould away. Hopefully we do something along those lines again.
"For September a win over Pirates in the final will be a befitting tribute.“I have had a good career. If this is how it ends then it was a sweet one."
The Star