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It is a story of determination, guts, and having the faith to back down after being knocked down.
After some high-profile mistakes last season that led to a long period on the sidelines. Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands He battled through thick and thin to regain his place as first choice and then regained some of his best form. Along the way, he perhaps achieved the salvation of the season.
In the fast-paced and ruthless world of professional soccer, the level dives we saw at Sandilands are seldom tolerated and often cause a player to leave a club.
Players can fight while settling into a new club, and if they’re young enough, clubs can lend them to work on their game elsewhere until they’re ready.
Sandilands, however, does not fit those molds and, at 36, faced an uncertain future in Pirates.
It is quite rare that a player of the age of Sandilands or any player of the matter that stays in the same club with his future in serious doubt and then, against all odds, continues to regain his form and place in the team. Another that comes to mind is Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs.
Here, Sandilands talks to Sport24 about this remarkable journey and reveals what was needed to overcome the difficulties.
Sport24: I am always eager to hear how the goalkeepers started between the clubs, as it is often an interesting story, as the regular goalkeeper failed to show up and the team needed an emergency replacement. Also, who were the heroes of your childhood when you were a child?
It’s funny that you mentioned it because I started on my U-6 team as a field player, at that age you know that everyone is running after the ball. The team goalkeeper moved and the coach asked who would like to be the goalkeeper. I raised my hand, I was too young to understand the dynamics, so I don’t think it was a calculated decision. It’s funny, when I retell the story I always think that the position chose me in some way.
So, I got into the canes and I have to give my parents a lot of credit where my dad really helped me. Being a goalkeeper is a really specialized position, so at the amateur level, in those days, the goalkeeper trained as a field player.
My father really helped me, I remember him going to a library and he got a book from Gary Bailey (former South African Man United goalkeeper) that had different exercises and he photocopied and grabbed the pages and it was kind of like our goal book textbook. When we trained or had games, he would come and take me aside to do some exercises and maybe getting a little specialized training made me a little better than everyone else.
In terms of childhood heroes, there is no one in particular who has modeled my game. I remember in high school I had a poster on my wall for Moeneeb Josephs while I was in Ajax Cape Town. It inspired me in terms of this exciting, energetic, acrobatic and very athletic young goalkeeper.
Also, the marks I wear under my eyes on game day, I remember seeing the 2002 World Cup and Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber, I was struck by the black marks under his eyes. But what also attracted me was his aggressiveness, bravery and only his confidence. I loved the aura he had on the field and that inspired me. So when I made my professional debut, I just copied his trademark.
Field players are often said to have the opportunity to make mistakes, but when it comes to goalkeepers, these mistakes are costly. Can you describe being in this unique position that not many experience?
That is the reality of the position and obviously you are so close to the goal that with any mistake there is a good chance a goal can be conceded. I think it’s something you understand maybe, it’s not necessarily something you think about all the time. Because if you think about it all the time or feel that weight or pressure, you wouldn’t want to go out on the field. You don’t want to receive the ball.
You are aware of this, but you focus more on doing what you can to help your team win and focus at that moment. We are all human and mistakes will happen at some point and when those things happen it is important to be able to leave that kind of thing behind and look forward and keep playing.
When mistakes happen, it’s sometimes easy for fans and journalists to criticize players without any empathy. So when you were going through your difficult period, how did that affect you?
For me it is different with each individual, I suppose. I can only speak for myself and for me bringing the game home is something I do. I care a lot about the game and it is one of the things that I have struggled with throughout my career; Identification with football and with myself as a person. So for me, going home and breaking up and saying, ‘Whatever happens, that’s soccer’ doesn’t really happen. Then it hurts. It hurts much.
Definitely going home, having that support group around me like my wife, my kids and my parents … that was really important to me.
Because for me it was not like: “Oh, that happened and is in the next one.” It stays with you. I think it would also be best for an individual to return to the field, however difficult it may be. As they say, go back to that horse, as terrifying as it is.
Unfortunately for me, I didn’t have that opportunity. I only went back to that PSL field four, five, or even six months after that. So it was really challenging because now you walk around and you have those kinds of things that you have to live with and process with.
So it was difficult, but there are a couple of factors that helped me. First of all, I believed that there was a purpose for this that was greater than me. Knowing that there is something bigger here than me that is happening and that will benefit me, will strengthen me and make me a better person in the long term. So that was something I remember holding on to.
The second thing is the type of personality I have or the determination and drive. Somehow, I know the archer I want to be and the level I want to reach, and it’s as if I keep trying to reach that level. For me, it was just about grinding every day, just showing up to practice putting the effort in, working 10 times as hard.
Some players may have been discouraged and handled it negatively, but you choose not to. So when you turned aside, how did you handle that pressure or was it a motivating factor?
I think for me I would probably have to attribute it to my faith which, during those difficult times, helped put things in perspective.
When you believe that there is a higher power and that you are going to get out of this better than before, it motivates you and somehow keeps you together. So that faith of knowing that there is something at work along with that determination to be the best.
There is only something inside me. There is only more and there is another level to reach. Quite simply, this never abandons the spirit type and there is simply no option to give up.
If there is anything I can say, probably until the moment I take off and hang up the gloves, it will just be an ongoing quest for excellence and trying to improve and evolve.
So, after regaining your starting place and performing great performances, did you feel justified for going out on the other side?
I think in any professional sport the more you play the more confidence you will gain. I think it’s nice to have been able to play consistently. But nothing really changed in terms of the game’s approach or in terms of work ethic. I try to be professional every day and try to maintain a certain standard. I am grateful to have time for the game and to be able to contribute no matter how the team was playing in recent wins.
I remember that at the end of last season we were very close, we put a lot of pressure to be there in terms of the title, but we fell short. But it was nice to be able to play and contribute. The goalkeeping coaches I’ve had at Pirates have also been amazing. Last season I had Andrew Sparkes, who is now Southampton goalkeeping coach in the Premier League and coach Jyri Nieminen this season.
They are guys who just connect with you and understand you. They are more than just coaches and boys who come, put you to the test, shake your hand and that’s all.
I would say that that is also what helped me to play at a constant level.
The reason I found your story so fascinating was because I found it extremely rare for a player to come out of a bad spell in such a remarkable way. The moment this next full circle meant to you was that incredible save against Black Leopards earlier this season. Could you detail that moment?
I think the save against Black Leopards was a reflex save that happened so quickly. I felt really amazing and I was so grateful to be able to make a rescue like that. But most importantly, it contributed to the team earning three valuable points, which at the time kept us fairly close to the record leaders.
For me, it’s about not trying to think too much. Getting ready for the Black Leopards game, it was another game and, as I said, my work ethic or mindset never really changed much. I’m really just trying to get out there and be the best I can and not try to focus too much on the story. Maybe when I finish my career and then I can look back and see the importance of this game or this salvage.
I think hunger is still there because I think it is the next level. Personally, I think I have not yet reached my full potential. I think that has to do not so much with the physiological side of things, but perhaps with the psychological side of things.
There is a good saying from a mind coach named Jannie Putter who says, “Both success and failure are written on ice and the next day the sun comes up.” So you enjoy it, but you realize there is more work to be done.
What do you think fellow players, especially promising youngsters, could take from your experiences?
I would say that, as difficult as it is, you will face two options. You will have to decide whether to give up, maybe this is too difficult for you, and then you will have to live with the pain of regret.
Or you stand up and face the pain. You face the pain and keep grinding. You keep pushing, grinding, keep believing. You keep putting one step in front of the other. I think it is something I have done and I think if you have been knocked down it is important that you stop and keep moving forward.
A great success is born of great adversity. Sometimes life hits you with situations that are not easy, such as the current pandemic, for example, or the loss of a family member.
Life will hit you, but you must dig deep, you must stop even if that’s all you do … it’s just stop.
You just have to make sure you get up and stand up, make sure you put one foot in front of the other, and keep moving forward in the hope that things will change.
When everything is said and done, you prefer to look back, not with regret, but you gave it all, you kept pushing and you never know how fast life can change.
I’ve seen it in football when things happen very, very fast and your world could turn upside down even in a positive way. But for that to happen, you have to keep believing and keep pushing, and that’s something I’ve tried to do.
That’s what I’m going to keep doing and look back when I’m done and say, “You know what, do your best.”
