I Should Have Done Better-Phale

By Chippa Legodimo
Correspondent | Monday October 19, 2009 00:00

It has been a decade since Ninki 'Boomshaka' Phale left Magosi to start work at Morupule Coal Mine near Palapye but supporters cannot help comparing the current crop of midfielders at the Kgatleng side to their former magician. When they announced their arrival, Phale and Molatlhegi 'Teenage' Podile were tipped to go far but both never reached their full potential. While Podile's on and off relationship with management ended with his early retirement from top-flight football, Phale's failure to rise could be attributed to his lack of determination and will to succeed.

His migration to the north limited his chances of making it big in football.
He is now playing for Division Two side, FC Palapye. He stated that he could have done better with his talent.

'I have always known that I have talent and could compete with the best but I do not have a clear explanation why I did not go far. Maybe if I had got a job around Gaborone, I could have gone further but then again, there is no certainty in this game,' Phale told Monitor Sport. 'My job has kept me busy. I have little time to focus on football. I did not leave Chiefs because I was angry with anyone. It was only that I needed a job and I happened to get it far from where the team was based,' he explained. The 35-year-old played for Serowe-based Miscellaneous and Motlakase Power Dynamos, which offloaded him last season apparently for being indisciplined. But the player claims he was told he was too old to play. Five years ago, Phale went for trials at South African giants Moroka Swallows when the club was still under the guidance of Gavin Hunt.

'That was the time when I thought I would get a chance to prove what I am made of in a competitive league but things did not work out. It was clear they were looking for younger players for the future and they felt I would not be a good investment,' he said. Although he has slowed down due to age, Phale can still terrorise young defenders with his skill.

He came as a second half substitute against Moshopha Tigers in the opening league match of the Tswapong Regional Football Association on Sunday to create havoc with his pin point crosses. Unlike his years at Chiefs, Phale now plays with more urgency and only uses tricks to eliminate the next opponent instead of playing to the gallery. The skilful player said he wants to help FC Palapye bounce back to the First Division as soon as possible and that he hoped to get a coaching job at the club in future.