In two successful football careers, Liverpool and England legend Steven Gerrard and Thuso Phala share a remarkable chapter of parallel achievements.
Both football legends boast a dazzling collection of domestic cup triumphs, but the grand piece of the puzzle is left just out of reach as neither has a league gold medal.
During his heyday, Phala was a quick and skilful winger who spent his time at Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, Platinum Stars, SuperSport United, and Black Leopards, while also representing Bafana Bafana on close to 30 occasions.
Despite playing for teams who collectively won the league on more than one can count, in the PSL era – the holy grail has eluded Phala, who feels his chance could have been in the 2017/18 season.
In that era, Matsatsantsa A Pitori were at the peak of their powers under Stuart Baxter, who won back-to-back Nedbank Cup titles between 2015 and 2017.
Baxter, however, was parachuted into the Bafana Bafana top job for a second stint. The Englishman left United high and dry and left players like Phala yearning for more of his touch.
“The best football that I’ve played was at Platinum Stars, that’s when I got my breakthrough to go to the national team and went to the AFCON. It also opened doors for me to join SuperSport United, where I would say I had the most success. At SuperSport I won (five cups in seven) years,” Phala told Nedbank Uncovered.
“The team I got at SuperSport was a great team, we were able to win every season. The experience we had [made us win], we had Dean Furman, Morgan Gould, Tefu Mashamaite, Jeremy Brockie at his peak, we had Michael Boxall, and the upcoming Tebhoho Mokoena and Sipho Mbule at the time, Mandla Masango was also there… we were strong,” he added.
“Unfortunately for us, when we were winning things, Stuart got called up to join our national team and it changed a lot. I am not blaming him for leaving and that we could not win anymore, but his staying for one more season at SuperSport was going to give us a shout to challenge for the league that season.
“He left us halfway and it disturbed us, and now I don’t have a league title because of that… so I blame coach Stuart for leaving us there.
Having turned out for The Spartans and Amakhosi – who are both enduring dry spells, Phala is torn in between. Chiefs are entering a 10th successive season without lifting silverware, while the capital city outfit last lifted a trophy in 2019 under Kaitano Tembo.
“Now they (Chiefs) have not lifted a trophy in a while, and the other team (SuperSport) has not lifted a trophy in a while also so I don’t know who to support,” said Phala.
Both Phala’s former teams are optimistic about the new Betway Premiership campaign after bolstering their squads. Amakhosi began their recruitment at the top with a new-look technical team led by coach Nasreddine Nabi.
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Njabulo Blom has returned to the club on loan, while Bafana international Rushwin Dortley, Bradley Cross, Bongani Sam, Fiarce Ntwari, Gaston Sirino, and little-known Inacio Miguel from Petro Atletico.
SuperSport, on the other hand, retained Bafana goalie Ricardo Goss on loan and introduced Thakasani Mbanjwa, Pogiso Sanoka, Nyiko Mobbie, Brooklyn Poggenpoel, Keanin Boya, and ex-Orlando Pirates star Vincent Pule.
Chiefs will get their season underway against Marumo Gallants on September 14 while United will face Masandawana in the Tshwane derby three days later.
