PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Kwanokuthula-based side Oriented Birds Football Club is one of the giants in local football and has a huge local fan base. 

Currently playing in the Western Cape ABC Motsepe League, the team started the season on a high note, coming out of the first round at the top of the log. 

However, they lost a key player to another team and lost the play-offs spot in the second round, finishing the season in fourth position.

Welcome Qalanto (45) was brought in as their head coach during the previous season and this is his second season with Oriented Birds.

Knysna Plett Herald chatted to Qalanto about his soccer journey. The mentor was born in Knysna and attended Thembelitsha Primary School in Knysna from Standard 1 to Standard 3 (Grade 5). 

He moved to Cape Town where he finished his school career at Nkazimlo Primary and Chris Hani High. 

Like any other young soccer player, he participated in school soccer, supplementing it by playing for local teams in the Cape Town area.

Qalanto said he was first scouted by the president of FC Kapstadt, Zaid Omar, who took him to Durban where he joined Maritzburg United Football Club in the 2006/7 season.

At the time they were playing in the National First Division, which was called the MTN League. He moved up with Maritzburg United to play in the Premier Soccer League. He was coached by Trott Moloto, Bobby Solomons and Constadin Papic.

In top-flight football he played for the following teams: FC Cape Town (2007/08), African Wanderers (2008/09), Chippa United (2010/11), Golden Arrows (2013/14), Milano United (2013/14), Mthatha Bucks (2015/16),

EC Bees (2015/16) and Steenberg United (2018/2019).

Passion for the game
His passion for the game didn't wane after he decided to hang up his boots - he went on coaching soccer, giving back to the community. 

He came back to Knysna to join Voota FC as head coach and took the team from the relegation zone to the top eight in the regional league.

Thanks to this success, he said, Oriented Birds saw his coaching ability and expressed interest in obtaining his service.

Not just about talent
He firmly believes anything is possible. "If Welcome Qalanto managed to reach the Premier Soccer League while growing up like any other local boy where there were not enough exposure and opportunities, anyone can do it," he said. "I pushed up and managed to feature in top-flight football."

Asked what his advice is to upcoming young players, he said: "Talent alone is not enough - hard work, respect, humility, discipline, and luck go a long way."

Oriented Birds' journey in ABC Motsepe League
He said the season started well and they were leading after the first leg of the league, despite having a small squad.

"The players gave a good account of themselves. The problem started when Khanyisani Radebe left the team to join the Motsepe Foundation team Milford FC in Richards Bay," he said. "That's where they lost the title race."

They were unable to find a replacement to fill Radebe's shoes. "One could say he is just one player, but his presence and impact in the team was amazing - both on and off the pitch," he said. "We wish him all the best."

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