Mere a vital cog in stars' excellent start to season

Platinum Stars had a bright start to the season, unbeaten after six matches. Their gallant performance suggests they will be strong title contenders this season.

One of the players who has contributed to Dikwena's excellence is seasoned campaigner Vuyo Mere, whom Mogomotsi Selebo  chats with him.

What do you make of Platinum Stars' start to the season so far?

It has been a great start for us. We are top of the league and we are playing great football. Last season was not that good for us and coach Cavin Johnson came in and helped us. This season, we were very fortunate that he started the pre-season with us and the results are there for all to see. He is a very good coach who supports us all the time as players.

What is it about Cavin? He seems to be able to bring the best out of you guys?

Exactly, he manages to get the best out of all of us. He can make us tick as a collective and as individuals. He has that ability to make us feel special as footballers, now if you have someone like that as not only a coach, but a father figure, you don't want to let him down. That is why I always give a 100% effort.

What about your own performance so far?

I am happy with it, although as a footballer you can never be totally satisfied with your performance. I guess the one thing I would like is to be more consistent throughout the season. People think that my legs are gone and they couldn't be more wrong. I can still compete.

What do you say to those critics who say your best days are behind you?

I love them because they give me more drive and motivation to prove them wrong. With me performing well, it also puts younger players under pressure to be on the same level as me. It also, to an extent, puts pressure on national team selectors to say, 'he is doing well, why don't we give him a chance', because I will always be available to play for my country.

Looking back at your career, are there any regrets?

Truly speaking, I am happy with my career. The mistakes I made along the way helped me become a better person, and I could not have achieved what I have if I did not make those mistakes and learn from them. However, I look back at my time at [Mamelodi] Sundowns where I was making so much money and I blew it. If I had brains, I would be a millionaire now. But I am just grateful that God gave me a second chance because there are players I was with at Sundowns who were not fortunate enough to get a second chance.

When you say you wasted money at Sundowns, please tell us what you mean by that?

It is just the lifestyle because you are young and don't know any better. All of a sudden you have a lot of friends and women throwing themselves at you. You sleep very late at night and basically attract the wrong crowd. There is no one to tell you that what you are doing is wrong. There is no one to say that drinking until 4am is not right for a professional footballer.

So was there nobody to talk to you about your lifestyle?

I was fortunate enough that Brian Baloyi spoke to me. Most of us knew him as a [Kaizer] Chiefs player. He told me that while he was with Chiefs, there was not a single woman who did not want to be with him. His advice to me was, 'find yourself a woman who loves you and will always be there even after your career is over'. I took his advice and I am glad.

So you are married?

I have been [married] for the past two years and I am very happy with my wife. We have been blessed with two boys. They have shown a liking for football but I won't put pressure on them to follow in my footsteps.

If one of the big teams come with an offer would you consider it?

Honestly, I would speak to both coach Cavin and management. I am very happy at Stars and I want to finish my career here. They gave me a chance when no other club wanted me. I want to help build the club's brand. I want to be to Stars what Siphiwe Tshabalala is to Chiefs and what Surprise Moriri is to Sundowns.