Shiba dedicates award to his mother

Since childhood Polokwane City Football player Linda Shiba always wanted to leave an indelible mark in professional soccer yet he never dreamt that he would one day proudly step up to receive a Man of the Match award in South Africa’s biggest soccer tournament, the Nedbank Cup.
Shiba was presented with R5 000 prize money and a green jacket from Nedbank by Juliana Selemela, Nedbank Area Manager Polokwane.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who joined Polokwane City two seasons ago after a stint with Garankuwa United, was a live wire in their Nedbank Cup last 32 match against African All Stars at Peter Mokaba Stadium last Saturday. He was the supplier of the two goals scored by striker Puleng Tlolane to give his team a major 2-0 victory.
“I have played for so many teams in the country but I have never won any major award. This is my first award since turning professional and I dedicate it to my late Mother, Jabulile Esther Shiba who passed away in 2006. She raised us as a single parent and she was there for me since an early age. It was not easy but she supported my soccer career and with this award I want to thank her for everything,” Shiba said.
He explained that Polokwane City’s wish as a team is to do well in the last 16 matches of the Cup, reach the finals and play in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup next season. “Last year we were knocked out in the opening stages of the competition and that did not sit well with us. We want to do well in the competition and participate in the CAF Cup. It will be good for us as team to test our abilities against some of the best teams in Africa but first we have to win the finals to realise that dream,” Shiba said.
The CAF Confederation Cup is an international club association football competition run by the Confederation of African Football. Select club sides from Africa’s football leagues are invited to participate in this competition, which is the second club football competition in the continent behind the CAF Champions League. The winner of the tournament faces the winner of the CAF Champions League in the following season’s CAF Super Cup.
Asked whom they would like to play in the last 16 matches of the Nedbank tournament, Shiba said they are happy to face any team in the country. “We are a professional outfit, we respect all teams taking part in the competition but we are not scared of them,” Shiba said.
His team is currently lying precariously in the 13th position of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and Shiba is adamant that they will do whatever it takes to finish the league in a respectable position. “We are aware of our position in the league. It is not a good position to be at, especially at this time of this season where teams are fighting so hard for points, but I can assure you we won’t get relegated. We will fight till the end,” Shiba said.
Asked what he was going to do with the
R5 000 prize money he said he hadn’t planned for it all. “Honestly I was not expecting the award and the money. Everything was just a surprise for me, but I will spend the money wisely.”

Featured Photo: Linda Shiba, Polokwane City Football Club midfielder proudly accepts the Man of the Match award from Juliana Selemela, Nedbank Area Manager Polokwane after their victory over African All Stars.

Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za