“I’m a mama’s boy” – Gcaba dedicates CKO R100k prize after hat-trick heroics

Durban City’s newest hero Fezile Gcaba walked off the Chatsworth pitch on Friday night not only with the match ball tucked under his arm but also a cool R100 000 reward for being voted Carling Knockout Cup Player of the Match. 

And his first thought was not himself.

The 26-year-old defender, who scored a stunning hat-trick in City’s 4-1 extra-time victory over Polokwane City, revealed afterwards that the prize money was already spoken for.

“I’m a mama’s boy, so all the money will be handed over to her and she’ll decide what we do as a family,” he said with a smile, fresh from his career-best performance in front of the Chatsworth faithful.

It was a night to remember for Gcaba, who is only two months into life at Durban City after joining from Richards Bay at the start of the season.

In just six appearances under Gavin Hunt, he has gone from being a steady new arrival to producing one of the most memorable individual displays of the Carling Knockout Cup so far.

“I’m extremely happy. I did not even think I could score three goals but I’m ecstatic,” Gcaba admitted. 

“I’m even more happier about the team’s performance and I believe we can do much more in this competition because that’s what we’re striving for.”

The right-back’s fairytale night began with a trademark Hunt set-piece goal after 12 minutes, followed by two extra-time strikes — one from a marauding run and the other a towering header — to seal his side’s progression to the last eight. 

But beyond his heroics, Gcaba insisted that the collective mattered more.

“This is a new team that’s recently been promoted and for us to be in the top five in the league and do well in the cup, it shows the kind of work the coach is doing,” he said. “We have players without top-flight experience here but it doesn’t show.”

Gcaba also credited Hunt’s demanding nature for bringing the best out of the squad.

“It’s really encouraging that I get here and the coach believes in me and gives me the chance to be on the field, it opens up other opportunities,” he explained. 

“His experience is invaluable to us. I’m not even going to lie — as much as he’s demanding, he helps us a lot and it shows in the games.”

For Hunt, who has built his reputation on structure and set-pieces, Gcaba’s rise is another example of his knack for unlocking potential in players. 

For Gcaba, it is just the beginning of what he hopes will be a long and fruitful spell at Durban City — but for now, his mother will be the one smiling the most, with R100 000 on its way home.