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During his stint as a professional football player, Esau Buti Phiri didn’t achieve all of his goals, but he now gets to live the dream through his son, France-based Lebogang Phiri.
In turn, the little-known 24-year-old Bafana Bafana midfielder, who is from Alexandra township in Johannesburg, credits his family’s support as the main force behind his rise as one of the country’s emerging stars.
“For me, family is my strongest base. I know that, with them by my side, I’ll always have the best motivators, the best critiques, the best pushers of my career – that’s the role they have played throughout my life. So whenever I get a little chance to give back to them, I make sure it’s exceptional,” the budding player told City Press.
Lebo Phiri has frequently flown his entire family to France to watch him live while turning on the magic for his side, EA Guingamp, who are now campaigning in the second division following their relegation from Ligue 1 last season.
“My father is my biggest critic. We always have harsh discussions. And I appreciate that because not many football players have a father figure in our lives who can always push you to the next level, and teach you how to portray yourself in the media, in public and on the field of play.”
Like his son, Phiri senior was relatively unknown because he turned out for unfashionable clubs, including the now defunct Vaal Professionals.
To make things worse, his career was cut short due to injury when he was at his peak.
Lebo admitted that he never got to watch his dad – who is now 50 – play at the highest level, but he gets some glimpses of the special talent in the old man each time he lines up for local veteran teams.
“He’s such a player. I can see where we got our talent from as his kids. His knowledge of football is exceptional as well.”
Phiri senior, or Asprilla as he is called by his peers after the legendary Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla for his pace, noticed something special in his son from an early age.
“He was about nine and I could see he had a special gift. His touches on the ball were different from the other boys. Sometimes tears just roll down my cheeks when I watch him play. He really surprised us,” said the proud father, who is a junior football coach at Redhill School in Sandton.
Lebo, dubbed “Little Maestro” by his dad, got his break overseas at an early age when he was lured by the Brøndby IF Under-19 side in Denmark after a spell with the Bidvest Wits academy.
“He pushed himself into the Brøndby first team and he helped the team to top-two finishes twice during his four-year stay in Denmark before he was signed in France in 2017,” said Phiri senior.
In France, Lebo is mainly utilised as deep-lying playmaker. “I play more as a number six; sometimes at [number] eight, depending on the tactic of the game. The coaches have so much belief in my tactical abilities and the fact that I can get the machine started for the team.
“They have trusted me regardless of my physical stature. They feel that I am good enough to play among the best. And I did last season. I have played so many games and against big names as well.”
“Being relegated was a bummer, but my dad told me these things happen in football.
“And when these things happen, you just have to stay strong and focus on the ultimate goal. We all know what we want and, at times, what we want is not always there, but it doesn’t mean we stop working,” he said.
“Ligue 2 is still a league that produces top players –the likes of N’Golo Kanté [Chelsea midfielder] came from there. We just have to give our best to try and get back up.”
Lebo, who still lives with his parents in Edenvale on the East Rand, has settled in nicely in Plérin, northwestern France. He has also immersed himself in the language: “I understand a lot of French, although sometimes I don’t have words to express myself, but I have all these phrases that I use to get me going.”
Lebo was hoping to get a run under new head coach Molefi Ntseki, having missed out on selection to the final squad that attended the recent Afcon tournament in Egypt.
The withdrawal of Zambia and Madagascar from friendly games during this Fifa international window has denied him a chance to show the country what he is all about.
He last played for the senior national team when former coach Stuart Baxter introduced him as a late substitute in Bafana’s 6-0 win over the Seychelles in an Afcon qualifier at FNB Stadium in October.
Lebo, who is not related to Alex’s legend Maimane Phiri, may well prove to be the latest top export to have come out of the sprawling township north of Johannesburg after the now retired Bafana midfielder.
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