In an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport, AmaZulu FC defender Wayde Jooste revealed what it takes to be a seasoned professional in the South African topflight and:
- Reflected on his first season with AmaZulu FC;
- Elaborates on coach Pablo Franco Martin;
- Spoke about playing for one of South Africa's big three;
- Opened up about his fashion sense and more
How would you describe your first season with AmaZulu?
I feel like it was a very, very good season. Like you said, it was my first season with AmaZulu. We had a lot of expectations as a team, as a club, and with the players we had, but obviously, we fell a bit short. I feel like that was a learning curve, it was a way of building into this, the new season, the second season at the club and I feel we are going to do a lot better this season than we did last season because we have that experience now.
What's your motivation going into your second season with the club?
What happened last season, what transpired last season, like, just falling short on getting to a cup final with the club. Obviously we would want to do a lot better than what we did last season in the league. So that's kind of the motivation behind us doing better. We have to do better than what we did last season, so that is motivation on it's own.
During your career, you've played under a few European managers. What's different about your current manager, Pablo Franco Martin?
I don't think there is any difference between coach Pablo and the other European coaches that I've worked under. They are all very strict on discipline. They demand a high level of quality and a high level of discipline. Tactically, they are very, very good, very, very strong in that department. I feel like I know more or less what coach Pablo wants. Also, working with him last season, now I have a better understanding of him, and I know more of what he wants this season than what I knew last season.
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It wasn't that long ago that the club was in the MTN8 final. How are they planning to get back onto their perch?
We, as players, need to look at ourselves first. We didn't perform as well as last season and know what's expected of us as players. As individuals, we know what's expected of us. We know what's expected of us as a team. I would say AmaZulu is also one of the big clubs in the country. Not as big as the big three, but they are a big club within itself. We know exactly what's expected of us and we know what the management of the team expects of us.
Speaking of the big three, you've played for Orlando Pirates in the past. Can you tell us what it takes to wear that Buccaneers jersey?
I think in a big institution like Pirates, a lot is expected of you. They require a certain level, a certain standard when you join the club. You know that you have to contribute when you go to a big club like that. I just feel like as soon as you put on that jersey, you know that a lot is expected of you, and your job is just to produce. You are at a club like that for a specific reason. The people at the club know what you can do, know what you are capable of and you have to perform. You know you have to keep the standards of the club high.
As a seasoned professional, you have played over 100 games in the PSL. Can you describe your matchday rituals and what a matchday looks like?
I feel like as my years in the PSL have gone up, I have also matured within that sense of preparation behind a matchday. I will wake up in the morning. I will meditate for 5 minutes just to get my mind ready; it's important to get your mind ready as well as your body. Immediately thereafter, I will go into like an activation session where I will activate the core muscles of my body, like I said, to get the body right as well and you know just to get in that mode of 'it's an important day, it's an important day for yourself, it's an important day for the club,' and you have to treat every matchday the same.
I feel like there's no match in the league that's bigger than the other. You have to treat every matchday the same. So that's why I try to stick to the same kind of ritual every single matchday. So yeah, after my activities in the morning, I will have breakfast, and then I'll just laze around on the couch and maybe watch something on TV. Then, I will make my way down to the stadium, where we will have a pre-match meal. Then I'll listen to my favorite tunes, you know, just to get me in that matchday mode again. Right before the game, I will do some stretches where I feel like it's necessary for me to stretch, and then from that time, it's game time.
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Following a matchday, how would you unwind after the game?
It's tough for me to unwind after a game because I struggle to sleep afterward. I feel like it's all the adrenaline and all the things that I drink during the day that keep me up. If I am around family, I'll be with my family until my family decides to go to bed, and then I'll just be up all night playing PlayStation. I also tried to get in what I lost, eating the necessary foods. But mostly, like I said, I can't sleep after games, so I'll be sitting up and playing PlayStation until the early morning hours.
You're entering your twelfth season of professional football. Is there anything you wish you knew sooner rather than later?
Maybe just taking my career as seriously as what I do now. Like the extra session, I have always been somebody who does extra work here and there, but not as much as I do now—also, taking my rest as seriously as I do now. I never used to sleep as much as I do now and eat the foods my body needs daily because I never went into so much depth. I started studying all these things, and it helps my body and career because I can play for more years now. So, who knows if I started this off sooner in my career than I would have been today?
Being arguably the most stylish footballer in the league, how would you describe your fashion sense?
I'd say I'm one of a kind. I'm original. I don't do what everybody else does, and I take pride in that. Most of the time, my teammates make fun of me, but then I always just say, "People always make fun of what they don't understand, so it's a good thing for me." Obviously, I like the way I dress, so yeah, I'm going to keep doing that.
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