Having completed an incredible 16 top-flight campaigns, Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands says there is no secret to success in football.
He puts his longevity down to hard work and discipline and credited the excellent teams he has played in with making him look good between the sticks.
Orlando Pirates goalkeeper shares the keys to success
“Defending is a team effort. The success goes to the guys in front of me. Remember, defending starts higher up the field. Everybody is involved in making sure that we keep a clean sheet” said Sandilands,” speaking to Pirates’ official website.
“Look, I have been in this game for some time now and I have had the opportunity to be exposed to all the good and bad in our football. But the one thing that has remained consistent in all my years in the game is two things – discipline and hard work! There is no magic wand here. In order to get ahead in this game, you need to be disciplined and be prepared to work hard.”
Sandilands taking nothing for granted
The 37-year-old Orlando Pirates stalwart doesn’t take anything for granted and warned young professionals against cutting corners in a bid to get to the top.
“I approach every season as if it’s my first, I don’t take anything for granted. If there is advice I can give to the younger players it is to put in the work and you will reap the benefits, but cut corners and we know how that story ends,” he said.
Orlando Pirates glory the goal
Sandilands hopes that the upcoming season will be his best to date. The goalkeeper has come close to winning the Golden Glove for the last two terms but has on both occasions narrowly lost out to SuperSport United’s Ronwen Williams.
“Overall, I am happy to have contributed to the team in some way this season.
“When you are playing regularly usually it means you are doing something right and I can only focus on working even harder next season.
“I am the type of person who always looks to improve and try to see what we can do better as a team.
“I guess it’s my attitude of never being satisfied. People close to me can attest to this. I am always looking to push the boundaries, I guess this is what has kept me going all these years,” said Sandilands.
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