Farewell To The Orchestrator

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola

The most important and influential player at Mamelodi Sundowns, Teko Modise is set to bid farewell to his club and go for greener pastures somewhere else- in his quest for a regular game time.

Those who came before me said; life beggins at 40 and Modise is fast approaching the membrane of the middle age. At his age he can't be willing to play week in and week out. Soon his legs will give in- he should be happy that his coach still gives him some time on the pitch.

With the talent at Sundowns' disposal- Modise has to be guiding the youngsters instead of competing with them. His experience and presence at Sundowns have a domino effect as they seek to retain the Caf Champions League title. 

He is a menace midfielder and still adds value at Sundowns. Modise was tailored to lead, rule, pause and restart the game. His silky touches saw him winning the PSL player of the season back to back. To this day he is the only player to win the prestigious personal accolade on two consecutive occasions.

Modise has accumulated all domestic winner's medals except the MTN8. The big win for The General was the Caf Champions League late last year. He has added the Super Cup winner's medal to his already flourishing medal cabinet. All his medals can easily be forgotten but the man he is and what he has done for Sundowns won't be fading away anytime soon. His contribution to the Patrice Motsepe owned club is second to none.

It was this very columnist who applauded Sundowns for acquiring his services in 2011: he suits their style of play. It will be crime of me not to quote The General here. "What Johan Neeskens said to me, is what I was looking for from all the coaches that I have worked with" Modise told the press in 2011. Modise rejuvenated under Neeskens following a tough season he has had at Orlando Pirates before he crossed the Jukskei river to the north of Jozi.

Sundowns will lose the man who marinated shoe-shine and piano; the pacy; free flowing style made famous by Stanley 'Screamer' Tshabalala. Modise makes football look easy as he orchestrates the piano from the middle of the park. It was dubbed shoe-shine because of the back and forth movement of the ball as they spread their passes from the back through their midfielders up front; then back the same route to the keeper if needs be (similar to the way you polish your shoes). The systematic and rhythm of the ball as it leaves the boot introduces the piano part.

A man of his art; whether he receives or releases the ball- it looks good on him as he pulls a gentleman's pose and leaves his markers wanting. All this won't be seen in Sundowns colours as from the next summer. Modise pulled a surprising stunt when he calls it time at Sundowns. I don't think even fortune tellers foresaw this one. It even caught Pitso Mosimane off-guard. Pitso, a man of many words, had not much to say about this matter.

"I don't know if he's leaving. Is it? Okay,but he hasn't told us," Mosimane.

To where Modise will be heading it is still to be heard. Defenders failed on several occasions to predict his moves on the pitch- likewise he remained lip tight about his next move.

Modise played for Orlando Pirates and now in Sundowns colours- is he about to make history and play for the Gauteng big three. Kaizer Chiefs is the only team he has never played for. Those who know me- knows that I don't like speculating. It doesn't help anyone but adds to the 'fake news'.

The biggest names have the best stats.

@Lamola_Herold