At 43, when most players have their boots gathering dust having been long hung, Orbit College FC captain Atisang Batsi continues to train and compete with the hunger of a debutant.
Interestingly, the ageless central midfielder is in his debut season playing top-flight league football in South Africa. It is a rare feat for someone to start playing PSL football at the age of 42 and turning a year older a few weeks after their debut.
After the Mswenko Boys secured the ticket to play in the Betway Premiership via the PSL Promotional/Relegation Play-offs in June, Batsi could not even believe himself.
“Shocked, excited, very emotional,” Batsi explains to FARPost his reaction after Orbit had won the play-offs.
“I didn’t really believe that this was going to happen, seeing myself playing in the Betway Premiership. But perseverance, determination and also putting in some hard work all the time helped.”
HOW BATSI’S FAITH HAS BEEN CRUCIAL IN HIS FOOTBALL CAREER
He is not shy to open up on how his faith sailed him through to the level of football that some talented players fail to reach.
“Putting God first by praying all the time, he answered my prayers,” the player who hails from the North West town of Schweizer-Reneke said.
The only top-flight league experience he had coming into the PSL was a four-year stint in the Botswana Premier League with Jwaneng Galaxy. But now, he was entering the grand stage of South African football, waiting to strut his skills against the likes of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.
He has already faced Pirates, who beat Orbit 1-0 in August at a time when the North West outfit was still warming up to the demands of the PSL.
KAIZER CHIEFS MIDFIELDER MTHETHWA WELCOMES BATSI TO THE PSL
Then, last Tuesday’s 4-1 beating by Amakhosi might have served as a brutal awakening that the top-flight league was not pap and vleis.
It was a match which left Batsi nursing some wounds. He spent the rest of the week struggling to speak after Chiefs gritty midfielder Sibongiseni Mthethwa elbowed him on the mouth. That left the Orbit skipper with shaking front teeth and needing the attention of a dentist.
But that does not weigh down Batsi, who is proud of his routine and positive habits that have been his secret to longevity.
“I think the hard work that I put into training whenever I train with my team is the answer because I don’t limit myself at training,” he added.
“I push until the end of the session, and I also help myself by resting enough, which is important for a 43-year-old footballer. Plus, I also make sure that I respect my body by not smoking, drinking and all other stuff. Those are the keys to why I am still going strong.”
The former Buya Msuthu FC star is not planning to stop playing anytime soon. “Only God knows when I will retire, but next season I will still be playing.”
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