Throughout the years that Greg Etafia has been between the poles for South African club Moroka Swallows, he has become one of the most valuable players in the Premier Soccer League (PSL). The Nigerian’s performances have been consistently high since he signed for Swallows in 2002 and he remains Swallows’ first choice goalkeeper. He feels he can still offer more.
“I am very happy that I am still active, doing well for Swallows whenever I am in action. For all the years that I have been playing for Swallows, I always gave my best and it is good that the team has been stable. When I arrived at Swallows from Nigeria, I was aware that I [was] going to participate in a highly competitive league that is well organized, so I always prepare myself well for any challenges that I come across,” he says.
Etafia has an impressive track record. In Nigeria, he performed with flying colors for Lobi Stars while they were in the CAF Champions League. He helped Stars reach the semifinals and quarterfinals of Africa’s most prestigious football competition. He also played for Plateau United in Nigeria for a brief period.
“While I was playing for Lobi Stars, I had good communication with my teammates and I was always determined to deliver for the team wherever we played. Whether it was a local league game or in the African Champions League, it was very important for the whole team to get good results. Playing in Africa in the Champions League was a good experience for the team because there were so many things that we learned from playing in different countries under different conditions,” he says.
Etafia represented Nigeria at the Under-17 and Under-23 levels. He was also part of the Super Eagles’ senior team. He credits the coaches he played under at youth level for getting him where he is now.
“Whenever I represented Nigeria, no matter at what level, I always felt honored. Playing for my country means a lot to me and I did my best whenever I got the opportunity to wear the national team jersey.”
Gavin Hunt, one of the top coaches in South Africa, discovered Etafia and brought him to Swallows. At the Soweto club, he was rated highly by many coaches from different backgrounds, including Julio Cesar Leal of Brazil, Rainer Zobel of Germany, Ian Gorowa of Zimbabwe and Gordon Igesund of South Africa. All appreciated his ability to deal with the crosses and organize his defence, but what really makes him stand out are his spectacular saves.
“All the coaches that I played under at Swallows had something to offer the team and I learned from them,” says Etafia.
He has won three major trophies with Swallows – the ABSA Cup, the Nedbank Cup and the MTN 8 – and feels there are more on their way.
“I remember my first cup that I won with Swallows was when we were playing against Manning Rangers in Bloemfontein. We had prepared well for that particular game. We had a good game plan and we approached that game well and we ended up winning. The other final was when we were playing against University of Pretoria (Tuks) in the Nedbank Cup final. Even though we were more experienced than Tuks, we took that game very seriously and we emerged victorious. The other glorious moment was when we beat SuperSport United 2-1 in the MTN 8 final at Orlando Stadium. It was a tough game as SuperSport had many quality players. We played good attacking football and eventually it paid off for us,” he says.
“We were very excited with our victory against SuperSport; you could just see the energy and happiness we showed as we were celebrating. It really feels good winning trophies with the team and I will carry on working very hard so we can win something again.”
Swallows, one of the oldest clubs in South Africa, has a rich history and has recently signed top players which Etafia feels proud to team up with.
The current season started on a high note when Swallows beat South African giants Orlando Pirates, however their form faded and they began losing games. It led to head coach, Zeca Marques, stepping down and Fani Madida taking over as caretaker coach. A 1-1 draw against high-flying Kaizer Chiefs in a league match boosted morale and Etafia is confident they can turn the corner and improve their position in the PSL standings.
“The spirit is very high in our camp at Swallows. It is a matter of taking each game as it comes. It is very important for us to get the good results. No matter who we play against, whether it is a small or a big team, we need to go out there and perform. It is very important for us to be consistent. I know there are so many games that we can play in a short period but we are professionals and we should be able to deal well with the tough situations we face.”
The 32-year-old goalkeeper keeps in touch with his fellow countryman Williams Okpara, the former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper. He grew up supporting Manchester United but his favorite player is Vincent Enyeama, the Nigerian goalkeeper who plays for Lille in France.
Being around fellow Nigerians and following other sports has helped Etafia settle in South Africa.
“I just love sport. I enjoy basketball; it is also a very interesting sport. I communicate with other Nigerians in South Africa and we discuss soccer and other important things in life. In Africa, we have the talent and it is therefore very important to use our skills right and do well at the highest level.”
It certainly takes a man with a big heart to stay far away from home and manage to remain his club’s first choice.