Marumo Gallants striker Jaisen Clifford has opened up about the profound influence former Bafana Bafana attacker and FC Copenhagen legend Sibusiso Zuma had on his career.
The 29-year-old joined Gallants at the start of the current Betway Premiership season after spending close to a decade in Europe. He played in Malta, Lithuania, Portugal and Bulgaria before making the bold decision to return to South Africa.
But, before making the leap of faith into Europe, Clifford honed his skills at SuperSport United, albeit in their reserve team.
It is at Matsatsantsa, that Clifford got a chance to rub shoulders with the Bafana legend, Zuma. The latter returned to the SA elite league in 2010 after parting ways with Danish side FC, Nordsjaelland.
He spent one season at Vasco da Gama, before switching to SuperSport United in July 2011. At SuperSport, he spent four years before retiring.
WHAT JAISEN CLIFFORD SAID
“For Clifford, Zuma’s career twilight served as a masterclass, with the legend’s exceptional talent and consistently positive influence on his teammates presenting invaluable, life-changing lessons.
In an interview with FARPost, Clifford said interacting with Zuma boosted his confidence, helping him to elevate his commitment and focus on the field.
“I think every South African player looks up to the likes of Benni McCarthy, Steven Pienaar, those who made it abroad and Sibusiso Zuma as well,”Clifford told FARPost.
I had a chance to be close to Sibusiso Zuma when he came to Supersport United towards the end of his career.
“So, I saw the way he conducts himself, the way he kept himself, professional at training, always doing extra work on the core and those kind of things.
“That really boosted my confidence, just seeing that from a player who has achieved so much. It also instilled discipline in my mind, because I thought to myself that he has achieved everything and he is still working the hardest among all the players.
“I think another player that I really enjoyed watching, ‘All You Need is Love’, Lerato Chabangu. I learnt a lot from watching him,” adeed Clifford.
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