JD, are you married? Do you have a child? Where do you do in your spare time and with whom? Do you have a crush on a celebrity? Are you a Christian or do you hang around with friends? What car do you drive? Who is your favourite local player locally and internationally? Which legend did you like growing up and which team did you support?


Murei Fhumulani

Josta Dladla: I have been married for four years to a beautiful; Thato Bareng and we are blessed with a four-year-old Xavier Dladla. I stay with my wife in Johannesburg. Yeah, I used to have a crush on R&B singer, Krishna Cole before she got pregnant (laughing). I am a Christian and I credit everything that has happened to me to God. I drive UNO since 1999 (Kaizerchiefs.com Josta got the car as a present from his father in 1999) Locally, I admire Surprise Moriri of Sundowns and internationally, I like Pirlo for his passing and his coolness in the game. I also enjoy watching Messi. Growing up I has always looked up to Doctor Khumalo and there is no reason for me to change now and my favourite team has always been Kaizer Chiefs.

Josta, I normally see you on Tuesdays at Sandton City’s Ster Kinekor and you always hiding under a big hat, what’s up with that?


Mzukisi Fani

Josta Dladla: I am a shy person (laughing). As players we get a lot of attention from fans which is something that we like, but sometimes I like keeping to myself. I do give fans time and my ‘famous smile’ sometimes for them to take pictures or to ask anything they want to know. I have a lot of respect for fans and never take them for granted.

How did you take the retirement of “10111” Zwane?


Shakes Shimane Motswaledi

Josta Dladla: Arthur had done a lot for the Club and it took a man like him to make that announcement. He is someone I have a lot of respect for having achieved a lot with the Club. He is, in my opinion, one of the greatest wingers to grace the League and could not have stayed here for such a long time if he was not adding value to the team. We played in the same position although we were different in terms of approach. It was not a surprise that he was given a position within the Club having given the Club such a service as a player. I wish him all the luck in his endeavours.

You said you have a tattoo of your wife’s name (Thato), what if she cheats or something. What would you do with the tattoo?


Luthando Jacobs

JD: She will never do that and that is the reason we are married today (smiling).

Looking at the performance of the team this season, do you think Kaizer Chiefs has quality players in all departments?


Wellington Luthuli

Josta Dladla: Big yes! There is a lot of quality in the team. If the Management can keep the same team for next season, we will definitely challenge strongly for the league. We had lot of new guys and a new coach this season and we are finishing 3rd, which is not bad at all.

I would like to found out if you have done anything for your high school (St. Ansgars) in terms of visiting and advising young fellows who would like to be like you one day. And again taking you down memory lane just want to know how it felt playing against ITIRELE with the likes of my late brother BIGBOY, Lebo Mosia, Rooi and others?


Ellina Ngoma

Josta Dladla: First, I must say it was sad to find out that BigBoy passed on…may his soul rest in peace. I have no doubt that he and his brother and most of the players I played with at school could have made it to any team in the country.

I have not gone back to St. Ansgars, I will always be grateful for what the school gave to me, the education and today I can speak English. I am planning to go back one day for sure and give back to the kids there. It is something I have been thinking about and I will do it.

I enjoyed football at school like I am doing now and I remember playing against ITIRELE, one of the best schools in the Lenseria area. They had the best players but we came in and we would beat them…those were the days.

A unique celebration when you score, what motivates it because from your days at Mamelodi Sundowns and now at Kaizer Chiefs - it is still your trademark?


Maenetja Matome

Josta Dladla: I am just ‘brushing off the dust on my shirt’ (laughing). It is a response to those one or two people who criticizes my game and it is a way of saying, “I am doing my talking on the field. I give all my life to this…continue talking”

It seems like you are not settled - sometimes you are on top form, sometimes you are not. Please tell me what causes that, as we are very much concerned about that?


Joe Phasha

Josta Dladla: As a player you have your ups and downs, but I always give a 100% every time I don the gold and black. People do not realize this, game plan changes - sometimes and I am instructed to play in a certain way by the Coach. I cannot go on the field and do things differently because I am Josta; I have got to follow the Coach’s instructions. At times things do not work out in football but I can assure you, I always give my best.

Are you superstitious?


Harry Mabasa

Josta Dladla: No, I believe in God. I believe what has happened to me all my life is through His greatness.

Why are you never included in the Bafana Bafana squad? Why are you always cheerful and laughing during games even when you are fouled?


Keleagile Tekanyo

Josta Dladla: I always ask myself this question as well. It started when I was playing at Wits University (now Bidvest University) as a youngster. I was always doing well but I was never called up in the junior teams and when I finally got a couple of calls, I was put on the bench.

I remember in 2002 just before the World Cup, I was in the final 33 men squad but sort of knew that I will not make up the final squad to Korea. People just wanted to be seen as ‘giving players chances’ and I knew it was not like that. That hit me a little bit…I remember telling myself that I will go play in Europe without Bafana Bafana.

I did go play in Denmark for three years, but still I was never called up. I remember at some stage the owner of the team in Denmark asked whether he should pay tickets for SAFA people to come and watch me play. I came back, played for Sundowns and now at Chiefs…maybe it is not meant to happen.

As a South African though I will be behind the boys in June/July when we take on the world on our home soil. I am content for what I have achieved in football and I have been able to live a comfortable life and I still hope to achieve more with Amakhosi.

I continue to enjoy my football and that is the reason why I play with a smile. The only time I do not have smile on the pitch is when I am substituted. I hate being substituted but I respect the Coach’s decision.

How was your first day at Naturena, what were your expectations and your challenges and who do you look upon?


Mannya Stanford

Josta Dladla: I remember waking up at 6am in the morning and a lot was going through my mind as I drove to Naturena. Here I was leaving Sundowns after spending four to five years and I was taking a salary cut and going to miss out on bonuses. “Is it a right decision? I remember asking myself but to me my happiness was the most important thing. My mind was made up that I leave Sundowns to fulfill my childhood dream to play for Kaizer Chiefs.

On my arrival at the car park, I slept as I had spent about three hours in the traffic from Midrand to Naturena. The guys were fantastic from day one. I did not know what to expect but I found everyone friendly. I met the Chairman the following week when he came to address us before we played Moroka Swallows in Rustenburg. Here was a man who had played at the highest level and someone I had heard a lot about…that he does not only looks after players at The Village but everyone who works here. Kaizer Chiefs is a fantastic Club and you can see that he is the man with vision and it was one of the reasons why I came here.

I was down on confidence on my arrival as I was stressed out at Sundowns. I also want to thank Mr. Bobby Motaung, who insisted that I come here earlier than we had initially agreed, as that helped me to adjust to the life at Chiefs.

I once read that you were at Jomo Cosmos on trial back in 1996 and never touched the ball in 20 minutes and I agree that we lose out on many players through similar situations to yours. Shouldn’t we have a School of Excellence in every province to make sure we unearth as many rough diamonds as possible?


Tiyani Mabasa

Josta Dladla: That would definitely help because I remember arriving at around 6am in the morning in Germiston for trials. I was there for 12 hours but could not touch the ball and I remember going back home and telling my mother, “I am not doing this again”…I was distraught. She convinced me telling me, “You love football, and you cannot give up”.

The idea of School of Excellence would help instead of players coming to trails in Johannesburg but clubs would go there to pick the best players. It is very important that the association put more money on the development because that kind of exercise would be costly but helpful in the long run.

So how did you end up in the professional ranks?


(Question from Kaizerchiefs.com)

Josta Dladla: My mother knew Scara Thindwa who was a development coach at Wits University and hooked me up with him. When I went there, he was not there, I think he was having a heart operation and I found Johnny Masegela. My mother had to convince him that I could play. He eventually gave me a chance and I think I impressed. I remember the likes of Tso Vilakazi, James Mayinga were there while Shakes Ngwenya was playing in the junior ranks. I was then promoted to the senior team in 1998.

Do you still have ambitions to play abroad?


Hopech

Josta Dladla: At 30, I definitely do not see that happening. I am now focusing on my future here at Kaizer Chiefs and I would like to end my playing career here.

I must say though I enjoyed my stay in Denmark where I was a regular for three years. The lifestyle there was obviously different and I learnt a lot, not only to be responsible as a player, but as a person. I played with good players like Steve Tiftan who was a regular in the Danish national team. I pushed myself very hard as I hate sitting on the bench.

How did you feel when you left Sundowns to join Amakhosi? I want to thank you for saving our captain, Jimmy Tau and you must know that we love and appreciate you as Amakhosi fans?


Marcus Mabala

Josta Dladla: Mamelodi Sundowns had been my home for four to five years and I achieved a lot together with my former teammates while still there. They will always be close to my heart, but I had to move on as my happiness comes first. I was not sure how things were going to turn out at Chiefs but I had to take the risk at the end. I have now enjoyed every minute of my stay here and would like to thank everyone for their support from day one.

You have been a marvel to watch this season. What has VV (Vladimir Vermezovic) added to your game that your previous coaches did not?


JS Mbokodo

Josta Dladla: Thank you for the compliment, I really appreciate this as you get people at times who will be negative. The coach gave me confidence. He believed in what I could offer for the team and showed ‘a liver’ to move me from the right to centre of the park where I have enjoyed myself. He saw that I was a good passer of the ball and I could be more effective playing in the centre.

You are one of the best players in S.A. but when Chiefs face big guns you do not pose any threat to opponents as compared to when you were at Sundowns facing other big guns including Chiefs?


Qubie Mahlangu

Josta Dladla: I do not agree with that because I always give 100% every time the coach gives me a chance to play. I might not have scored yet but I have certainly given my best, whether creating or tracking back and defend when called to do so. I do understand that fans want to see a lot due to the way I played at Sundowns, but in all honesty I think I am a better player now than I was then. I still have the pace but use more brains now. My passing game has improved and my positioning as well is much better. Here I am more of a playmaker and the play revolves around where I play.

Please tell me about the meaning of the tattoo on your arm?


Berty Scara Saal Concordia

Most have no meaning really. It is just that as a child it is something I wanted to do when I grew up, and people thought I was crazy when I finally did it. But look now in the PSL, you will see most players have tattoos.

What are your future plans and why most players do not consider becoming Player Agents instead of going to coaching?


Doctor Mthombeni

I am planning to have few businesses but nothing soccer related. I will definitely not be a coach when I retire. As for players’ choices, I think it depends to them really on what they want to do and we can only respect their choices.

Kaizerchiefs.com together with Josta Dladla would like to thank the fans for their overwhelming support and encouraging words. Next star on the line is Itumeleng “Spider Kid” Khune…please send your questions for Itumeleng before 13h00 on Wednesday, 03 March 2010.