SEBOKENG.- Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Masondo said that he is one of the few ex-professional players who went through football development structures, unlike other former professional players. In a heart-to-heart interview, Masondo told Sedibeng Ster Sport how he was made to rot on the bench/ grandstands because he didn’t possess  big physical strength like his teammates.

Despite his talent, Masondo said he had to watch less talented players playing every week while sitting on the bench. Masondo is a product of the SAFA Transnet School of Excellence. The school produced household names in South African football such as Steven Pienaar, and Masondo happens to be one of those players who was recruited by Orlando Pirates from the School of Excellence. He was destined for a great future in South African football but many coaches overlooked his talent.

Coaches came and went at Orlando Pirates, and there was no one who was brave enough to play Masondo on a regular basis. This was during the eras when to be a professional player you had to have a big physique. Many believe that Masondo played football at the wrong time when physique was the name of the game. Masondo told Sedibeng Ster Sport that most of the players then didn’t even go through development structures, like he did.

“I’m very proud that I went through football structures and I understand the development of players especially the current youngsters. I don’t wish these youngsters to go through what I went through because of my small body frame. I hated football because I was not judged based on my talent but on my small body and my wish is that the same must not happen with these youngsters that you guys developed. When I was at the School of Excellence I enjoyed my football career because they never judged us on our physical strength that is why the school produced big names in South African football. If you look most of School of Excellence players went to play abroad,” he said.

Masondo challenges the ex-professional players to get involved in the development of football especially in Sedibeng. He said that it must be their responsibilities as ex-professional players to guide up and coming stars to be better players. He also told Sedibeng Ster Sport that he was fortunate to grow up in the development structures and that this helps him to understand the current generation of players.

Masondo is now also part of Vaal Legends that are made up of former professional players.