Sekhukhune United midfielder Thabang Monare has revealed that Jomo Sono once compared his partnership with Linda Mntambo at Jomo Cosmos to that of Andile Jali and Oupa Manyisa when the latter pair were still at Orlando Pirates.
Monare spoke to IDiski Times writer Lethabo Kganyago in edition 191 where he was asked about his best midfield partner. The 35 year old narrated that he has good partnerships over the years as the country is best with midfielders and went on to tell the tale of how Sono believed in his players to point of making the said comparison.
Check out the latest Betway Premiership fixtures and the updated log in our match centre.
Monare says though that spoke about the confidence the South African legend had in his players he felt that put him and his partner under pressure.
“I once played with Linda Mntambo at Cosmos,” Monare told iDiski Times.
“We did well and at the time Andile [Jali] and Oupa were doing so well for Pirates and the national team. Bra J [Jomo Sono] went to the papers and said, ‘You think the best is Andile and Oupa, I have Monare and Mntambo!’ Linda and I were side-eying each other thinking ‘What’s Bra J doing putting so much pressure on us’ (laughs)”.
“That’s how much he believed in us, comparing us to those two at a time when they were untouchable”.
“And I went to Wits where it was like a factory that manufactures midfielders. There was Phumlani [Ntshangase], there was Xola [Mlambo], me, there was Ben [Motshwari] and when I got there Vila [Sibisuso Vilakazi] was there he was about to leave, there was Jabulani Shongwe. I had a good run with Xola and you knew that if there was a suspension or injury, I’d play with anyone and it would be the same”.
