Trophy Talk With Langerman

Out of the 10 trophies he has won at the only two clubs he has played for in South Africa’s topflight, defender Tebogo Langerman argues there is no greater feeling than being crowned champions of the Premier Soccer League’s top tier.

The 34-year-old has on five occasions collected championship medals, four of those coming during his eight-year spell as a Mamelodi Sundowns player and the other while at our Tshwane rivals SuperSport United.

Only Hlompho Kekana has been at Chloorkop longer.

“If I have to choose I’d say the Premiership league title because it’s a big trophy in South Africa and it gives many opportunities like going to into continental competitions,” Langerman explains as he goes through his list of accolades, among them a CAF Champions League and Super Cup title, two Telkom Knockout trophies and the Nedbank Cup.

The league title puts players on show, he added.

“For most players, winning the league gives you the chance to go overseas and when you become the player of the year it shows your consistency,” says Langerman, with his former teammates Bongani Zungu, Keagan Dolly and Percy Tau all examples.

Another character trait the veteran defender has been praised for is his ability to maintain the same level all these years with his overlapping runs and pinpoint crosses throughout his Chloorkop spell and when called up for national team duty.

“Being at Sundowns for this long means a lot and I’m happy to be at a club of this size for this long and still be able to keep my position at this age. I am being helped by everyone at the club, from the president (Dr Patrice Motsepe), management, the working staff, my family, and the Sundowns supporters,” Langerman says.

“And lastly all the coaches who have left the club and all those that are still here.”

On being perceived as a reserved person, “Langa” insists there is a time for everything.

“I can’t say I’m a reserved person, I’d say I look at things differently and talk when it’s necessary,” he explains.