One of the top 10 South African footballers of all time, Neil Tovey was recently awarded the National Order in Silver for his contribution to sport and democracy by President Cyril Ramaphosa. He spoke to Debbie Reynolds
It’s a weekday so former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs captain Neil Tovey is in Jo’burg where he works as a technical advisor to the South African Football Association (SAFA).
“I would love to have my office in Durban but coming back to my Mount Edgecombe home every weekend makes up for it,” he says. “I’ve travelled my whole life so I’m used to living out of a suitcase.”
He’s still bowled over by receiving The Order of Ikhamanga in April alongside KZN stars, cricketer Hashim Amla and rugby legend John Smit.
“I am obviously very honoured and rightly so because when you go about your trade you don’t ever think one day the president will recognise you for it,” says Neil. “It’s even more heartening to be honoured while you are still alive rather than when you have passed on.”
The awards are the highest honour the country bestows on its citizens who have contributed to the advancement of democracy and – according to Neil – there was no greater moment for him than leading Bafana Bafana to success in the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations.
“This was very early in our democracy when there was a lot of harmony in our country. It followed the Springboks World Cup win in 1995 and showed how South Africans could be a proud and happy nation.”
Neil says while he grew up in the apartheid era, football was a democratic game from as early as 1978. “This was when all the ethnically divided bodies formed one league and we all finally began to play together, showing the world a microcosm of what South Africa could be.
“It wasn’t always easy playing a multi-racial game in a country that wasn’t. For example, travelling to the Free State we would have a problem with the team staying together in a hotel because of apartheid laws.”
Even though football was his first love, it was not a sport that was played at Northlands Boys’ High when Neil studied there back in the 70s, so he played hockey, baseball, softball and cricket.
“As a youngster you never know where your life might take you, but I think my course was plotted largely by the influence of my older brother Mark who played professional soccer while I was at school.
“I played club football, along with my school sports, and captained every team I played in, won leagues and was chosen for provincial teams.”
Neil still holds the record for the most appearances in the National Soccer League and is also proud to say he won every single national trophy there was during his careers with Durban City, AmaZulu and Kaizer Chiefs.
All his successes could have gone to his head, but Neil says if anything it has humbled him. “I’m competitive by nature so I set my standards high. Especially playing at international level you can never be complacent – even if you win there is always room for improvement.”
It is this ethos that he brings to his job as SAFA technical advisor. “I love being able to nurture young players,” he says. “It’s very rewarding using my experiences and knowledge to help new talent and get the game to a higher level. Our young players have so much potential which just needs to be properly nurtured.”
He is also quick to point out that while the senior men’s team, Bafana Bafana, is not “doing what it should” right now, SAFA’s junior teams are doing very well. “The under-17 men’s and women’s teams qualified for the last World Cup, the under-20 team qualified for the Korea World Cup, and Banyana qualified for the Olympics in 2016, so there’s lots of hope going forward.”
With the 2018 World Cup currently on the go in Russia, Neil has fond memories of the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
“It was such a great opportunity to showcase our country and prove to the world that while we may be Third World in some aspects, we have great infrastructure and the ability to host the most successful sporting event in the world.
“We don’t have lions running down our streets, but we do have great game parks and a lot of those football tourists have come back because of the wonderful experience they had.”
Looking at 2018, Neil says while the top countries like Germany, Spain, Brazil, France and – to a certain degree – Argentina will certainly be in the mix, the tournament should be interesting.
“Before you had very clear top and bottom echelons, but the game is much closer now and there are teams like Iceland, Panama, Belgium and Mexico which are not going to roll over.
“It’s not as cut and dried as it used to be and I think we are going to see a lot more surprises in this World Cup than before.”
Of the African teams he reckons that while they are in tough groups, Nigeria and Morocco have good chances of progressing and if Egypt’s “sensational” striker Mohamed Salah has recovered, they could also do well. He says Senegal is also dangerous.
Looking to his future, Neil has had to tone down his lifestyle considerably following two critical heart attacks. “I can’t do the high-intensity stuff I used to like squash and cycling, and have to take medication every day. Having technically died already, I’m not really scared of anything anymore.
“I also realise how important it is to enjoy life and not bother about little things. I try to worry less and am very peaceful with myself. My racehorses and playing golf at Mount Edgecombe are now my top hobbies.” *