TLOLANE: WE MISS YOU BLUE ARMY
1 April 2020
"I chat with the other players and we talk about how much we miss Friday nights," says Maritzburg United's attacking midfielder, Tebogo Tlolane.
Like the rest of South Africa, Tlolane and his Maritzburg United teammates are currently one week into a three week coronavirus lockdown.
Tlolane says he's keeping his spirits up through a regular exercise regime.
"I'm just trying to do as much as I can. Keeping fit, trying to train in my backyard, doing a few sprints. Just trying to do some things to keep me going," he said.
"It’s just about trying to maintain some of the fitness and a bit of shape. Even if it’s not enough, it’s better than just sitting around."
It's not easy though. The Team of Choice were on a good run of form before the PSL was brought to a halt. And for professional footballers used to being out on the field every day, sitting at home all day is a challenging experience.
"We were in a very good spell as a team," Tlolane pointed out. "The momentum was good. It's something you can't describe (the lockdown).
“I find myself kicking the ball every day, just imagining myself training or playing. It feels like a lot of emptiness. But its things which you can't control. Hopefully it can get sorted out soon."
Ultimately though, everyone has to make a sacrifice for the greater good, as Tlolane underlines:
"The only way we will be able to deal with this virus is to follow the instructions of the government. There's protocol in place and we must follow it to try and get things back to normal.
"The more we are naive to a situation, the more it will spread. It's about finding that place in your heart where you understand that more lives could be harmed when one person goes out. Its very important to take the government advice. It's important to understand that this is out of our control."
Tlolane has made a very bright start to his time with United after arriving in the January transfer window. He had quickly won over the Team of Choice faithful, the Blue Army, and admits he's now missing the real-life interaction with fans.
"For the Blue Army, they must know that we miss them as much as they miss us," he said. "I chat with the other players and we talk about how much we miss Friday nights (home games at the Harry Gwala Stadium)
"And to the rest of the football fraternity, you realise how much you love football when you can't watch or play it. The only way we can turn things around is to stay together and hopefully we can be back on the pitch soon."
* Our social media platforms will continue to provide updates and let you know what our players are up to - please click on links below:
|
