GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Our district is not only a place of spectacular beauty and close-knit communities, but it boasts some of the area's best football players. Graaff-Reinet Advertiser recently caught up with one of these legends in our area.
'Chansa' Cecil Hendricks
One of the best football players in the area wants to do it one more time. The 38-year-old Cecil Hendricks shared his legendary football experience.
Hendricks, better known by his nickname Chansa, one of the best goalkeepers in the country, started playing football at an early age in the dusty streets of Noordvoor in Masizakhe.
In the late 90s he played for Dangerous Darkies as a midfielder but was moved to guard the posts, a job at which he excelled.
He has fond memories of the years from 2000 to 2008, when he shared great moments with fellow football player Mzuvukile Tom after they were scouted by Loyiso Maqaza, a football consultant for the OR Tambo Cosmos.
Tom, from Graaff-Reinet, is a South African football defender and midfielder who spent most of his career with Golden Arrows. He was capped twice for South Africa. Chansa only played one season with Cosmos before he moved back to Graaff-Reinet.
In 2002, as a learner at Asherville Secondary School, he represented the Eastern Cape schools football tournament in Gqeberha where he was elected as the number one schools goalkeeper in the country.
He also had the pleasure of meeting Fani Madida, a former professional South African player and Clive William Barker, the South African coach.
In 2008 he moved to Mossel Bay where he played for Avante United FC.
Life after football
"I want to play one more time," says Hendricks, who is currently a construction worker. His biggest wish is to play goalkeeper for the Dangerous Darkies to showcase his talent.
"I think I have seen the required level of football and very few goalkeepers know what hard work you have to put in. Goalkeeping is not easy and I want to transfer those skills to the youngsters. I see a lot of potential footballers and there are great opportunities for goalkeeping. I want to groom at least some, if I can have the opportunity," he says.
Hendricks didn't always have it easy and had to train extra hard. "Sometimes I had to train without a football or boots, but I was determined to be the best," he said.
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