In local football, there are few partnerships more iconic than that of Erick Mathoho and Tefu Mashamaite. The two centre-backs formed a formidable duo for Kaizer Chiefs, helping the club to win numerous trophies, including the Premier Soccer League title on two occasions.
Mashamaite has explained how his formidable partnership with ‘Tower’ was successful at the club.
The defensive duo were indomitable under the tutelage of Stuart Baxter, with both players playing a key role in Amakhosi’s 2012/13 and 2014/15 PSL title triumphs.
Mashamaite reckons that he knew his partnership with Mathoho was destined for greatness at Chiefs, as their partnership was based on mutual understanding, great communication and respect.
Indeed, Mashamaite and Mathoho’s centre-back pairing became one of the best partnerships in the SA top flight between 2012 and 2015.
The former Bidvest Wits and SuperSport United defender went on to reveal that their partnership worked perfectly because they did not compete with each other but set about making their partnership the best to maximise their playing time.
Mashamaite also emphasised that after seven years of their partnership, people are still talking about it.
TEFU MASHAMAITE ON HIS PARTNERSHIP WITH ERICK MATHOHO
“You know, partnerships are about communication and understanding. I feel that’s one quality that made us strong and so formidable,” Mashamaite told FARPost.
“Even after seven to eight years of that partnership, people are still talking about that partnership.
“I feel it was down to understanding each other and respecting one another. Also, wanting to see the team progress and do well.”
The 38-year-old further stated that they knew what they had to do the moment they set foot on the pitch.
“We knew that we had to take care of our department just like goalkeepers, central-midfielders, and strikers that were the spine of the team, and we knew we had to deliver and take care of our department [centre-back],” he added.
Overall, Mashamaite played 120 games, scoring 11 goals and weighed in with five assists for Chiefs.
Meanwhile, Mathoho featured in 259 matches for the Soweto giants and found the back of the net on 26 occasions, and contributed one assist in the process.
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