🇦🇹🇿🇦⚽ The Life of Roland Putsche In A Nutshell

"I haven’t always been the first choice; and that became the driving force behind the person that I am today."

The life of a professional athlete is not always an easy one especially when you are constantly in the spotlight and it’s so for being to judge without knowing you but only based on your performances. So imagine you love a particular sport and you enjoy it so much but somehow they would always be someone better and you are constantly having to work extra hard to be seen – only due to the fact that you were not always thought to be the best talent but somehow you’d have the tenacity to pick yourself up and prove them wrong. This is the life story of Roland Putsche and how he persevered to be the footballer that he is now.

Roland Putsche was born 28 years ago in a small village in Austria which surely everyone knew each other “I was born in Austria in a village with like 25 houses and grew up there as well. That’s also where I started my football career at the age of 4 where I joined a local club and then I was to later join an academy at the age of 12.”

“It was the first time ever in my life that I was in a professional environment. This is where I played for the biggest club in my home town and made my debut and then I eventually moved to Wolfsberger AC where I spent six amazing years in the highest division of Austria as well. And then I moved to South Africa which was a little unusual for a professional Austrian soccer player and ended up here at a table with you. I think I made the right choice (laughs).

Well, quite frankly what he means by a table with you is that the interview was set up at this rather quaint restaurant called VIXI Social House in Bree Street in Cape Town. One of my favourite spots to have after-work drinks with friends and good old’ downtime if you might call it that. Noisy? Yes, of course, I would be surprised if it wasn’t because it is such a popular joint in the city. We managed to get to hear each other perfectly and the interview went as perfect as I expected.

So Putsche went far ahead of with his answer at the beginning so I asked him to backtrack a little so he could give the readers a background on his life and where it all began. It’s quite interesting what he had to say about his father who may have not been too eager for his son to play football; but who said that the youngster wasn’t stubborn?  How can one blame him when all he wanted to do was kick a ball?

“Hah! It’s actually very interesting because in my youth my father always used to say that my son can play every other sport but football and only because he only played at a ‘grown-up level’ for like three or four years and during this time he had already undergone three surgeries (3x torn ACL) and by the time I was born (his firstborn son) he had told everybody that my son is not allowed to play soccer because of what he had already been through and didn’t want anyone to experience that.

“What ended up not being totally right because when I was little I didn’t want to play with anything else but a soccer ball and my dad was eventually forced to put me into a club and that’s when my career really kick-started from there. When I realized that I could be professional was not always obvious because they told me I wasn’t the biggest talent around because there were other kids who were more gifted and more privileged but what helped me was that from an early age I was already a hardworking person and I think at the end of the day, that is what paid off for me,” as told to The L.A Dosage.

That’s quite unfortunate considering the talent we have been blessed with to see day in and day out so how could he be told that he wasn’t the biggest the talent around but one thing that’s amazing that Putsche said is that he was very determined and hardworking and I guess one can say that years later he has reaped what he sowed all those years back.

So with every athlete, you can encounter, there’s always mention of something or someone that inspired them to get into their respective sporting code and so what powered Putsche? “My parents always supported me; I actually think my mother was a much bigger soccer talent than my father was funny enough though. In all honesty, I think my biggest inspiration was that I have always liked to prove people wrong and because I haven’t always been the first choice; and that became the driving force behind the person that I am today,” he revealed.

Enters Austria Karnten where his rather professional football truly kicked off in a sense? Where to from here for the young Roland Putsche? From coming through the club’s academy ranks to joining first-team training sessions and eventually being handed his senior debut?

“That was really amazing because I had already been with the club’s academy side as well, although they did change the name of the club a few times, it always remained that same. At the time, I joined the first-team training sessions, we still had national team players – a very good team actually but it was dealt with a lot of financial struggles and the coach then was the one who gave me my first opportunity to join the first team training and I also made my debut in the highest division in Austria. I joined the first team when I was about 17-years-old but I don’t quite remember when I made my debut.

“It was really lovely – in the biggest city of Southern Austria with 100000 people (laughs) so it’s not really that big, but it was an amazing feeling to play for a club in a place where everybody knows everybody and everyone would follow your career path from when you are very young and so forth – so it makes it really special.

“In terms of the fan base, it was really tricky because of the club’s financial restraints but it had been a club that had been there for years and had formed a culture. On a good day at most, we would have a capacity of about 10000 which was not too bad but not really good either. I just think Austrian people are passionate about football and that always makes it special,” as told to The L.A Dosage.

We then touched on the lessons he learned during his time at Austria Karnten that would eventually lead him to his career highlight while playing for his biggest club at the time, Wolfsberger AC, but it’s interesting what he touched on how football academies work back home in Austria: “You know growing up in Austria you always knew that most people are hardworking and very disciplined. So when you do enter a football academy back home, the first thing you get taught is how to work in a team and with the team and that there is no space for individuals who are bigger than the team and that is the biggest lesson I carried with me.”

It’s incredible how passionate Putsche comes across when he speaks of this particular moment in his career: (Laughs) Oh, then I would have to go a bit further then. . .  that’s when I played for Wolfsberger AC – the most amazing six years. This was when we played in the Europa League against Borussia Dortmund – it was a very personal and special moment for me because since I was a little boy I was a massive fan of Dortmund and before the draw, I was pretty much-holding thumbs hoping that we would play against them even if we don’t have a chance at the end of the game – the most important thing for me then was for us to play against them. Then that special moment happened. .  we still actually hold the record for a Europa League qualification because it was a sold-out stadium in Signar Park in Germany in front of about 65000 people. The atmosphere and just playing there was absolutely amazing; definitely the most special moment in my life as a footballer,” as told to The L.A Dosage. 

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So it’s done and dusted for Putsche in Austria and like every other footballer they are always ready to pack their bags to the next challenge and this time around it was to a whole other country and city for that matter, and he was to eventually, land up at Cape Town City but it wasn’t as straightforward as that considering the fact that he had already visited the country prior to that.

“Yes, actually I had been to South Africa before, Cape Town twice precisely for the holidays and that’s when I met the founder of Young Bafana Bernd Steinhage who eventually became a big figure and motivation in my life in terms of my move to South Africa.

“In terms of my move to Cape Town City – I actually had other offers on the table to be quite honest but at that stage of my life, I just wanted to experience something different – something where my personal growth matters and the other offers I had, I didn’t find them appealing and he (Bernd) mentioned that there is actually a new club in Cape Town and they just relocated after buying the license from Mpumalanga Black Aces and that he knows the owner of the club as he is well known in the soccer industry and so he told me to come and help him out with the Young Bafana boys and coach them for a bit. And then to go to CT City and tell them who you are and show them what you can do.

“It wasn’t really culture shock per se because I already knew what to expect and at the beginning there were a lot of things that were still very new to me that it was so overwhelming that I didn’t get the chance to really process what was happening around me so from the very beginning I just tried my best to fit in as much as possible and not really wasting time worrying about issues, what’s different and so forth.

“However it did take me some time to adapt especially with the style of play here and to settle into South Africa and Cape Town precisely but I didn’t find it very difficult,” he said. 

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When it came to now adapting to the team after he had been signed to the books of Cape Town City, Putsche said: “Oh ja! Definitely the guys from Young Bafana because firstly when I got here I always had someone I could rely on, somebody to speak to as well and I just think we had a cool bunch of guys in the first season together at Cape Town City.

"The guys were very welcoming and very open especially Robyn Johannes who played a big role – we got along so well and we quickly became friends. He is the one who made it is for me to fit and really showed me a good time in Cape Town as well. So you know when you feel welcome in a place, in a nice environment where you can chat to people it makes everything easier,” he said.

The following question is rather common but at the same time it has to be asked because every player has a different experience when it comes to their debut and according to Putsche, it was a day filled with ‘pure excitement’ and fair enough, who wouldn’t be excited being handed their maiden debut for their new club.

“I think it’s just pure excitement, that’s what every soccer player wants. That’s what we train for basically to play the game; to put on the jersey for your new club and represent Cape Town in the PSL, there is no other word to describe it but pure excitement.”

Speaking of pure excitement (insert dancing emoji) Putsche went on to score his maiden goal in Cape Town City’s 4-1 thrilling victory against Free State Stars at Athlone Stadium and it was something of what beautiful football dreams are made of and he was rather modest about his emotions on that day (insert wink face)

(Laughs) “Definitely long overdue to be honest. It was good, very satisfying to finally score because I didn’t know I could score goals, took me quite some time and then to see the ball touching the back of the net, it is really an amazing feeling. It feels like you are finally contributing your bit to the team and that is also a big part of the game as well – pure satisfaction.

“A feeling you can’t describe. I always say if you haven’t experienced this kind of feeling as a player then it’s quite sad because of that kind of satisfaction is what guys want to have even through to their retirement. . . it’s something that has to linger for the longest time. It’s the little things like this that you can’t find anywhere else.

He continued: “It’s difficult to say if that’s my highlight since playing here but I can definitely say that I definitely grew as a player and as a person – it changed my style of play and I also definitely have more routine these days, but I think because the transfer came when I was a bit young, and after playing in that Europa League where I was at my peak where my path could have gone a little bit different. I am not unhappy about it, to be honest; I am very happy where I am at the moment and if it’s really my peak – then I am not really able to say.”

As the interview was drawing to a close we delved into that almost career-ending injury when CT City played against Highlands Park and his season came to an abrupt end. It was absolutely shocking to witness and what truly happened during that game?

“I actually was caught between two guys; it wasn’t actually a bad challenge or anything. It was just unfortunate, to be honest. When I went into the duel between the two guys, I sort of over bent my knee a bit and kind of squeezed everything that was in it. I immediately felt that something really bad had happened to me.

“I had already had a bit of a meniscus operation on my left leg already and now it happened the turn of the right one. I knew straight away that was proper damage and when the results came back they told me I had a tendon tear in my meniscus and the doctor recommended that I don’t take out my entire meniscus because over the long run I would end up facing major problems with it. He recommended that I just repair it which obviously takes a little bit longer so that’s what happened to me and that is what I did,” as told to The L.A Dosage.

So eventually after all the treatments here in Cape Town, Putsche was to go back to his native of Austria and there he was to undergo further treatments: “So a friend of mine who is also the physio and recovery coach of my former team kind of gave me the opportunity to be back home and work with him one on one and I obviously took that because I have known him for a long time and I know what he is capable of and knowing his knowledge is beyond amazing in terms of football injuries and professional athletes so it was a no-brainer for me to use the opportunity to go back home and work with him.

“Also it came at the right time because it was a good time for me to clear my mind again; to change the environment and it was a great opportunity to see my family again. It brings something fresh to the recovery process and makes a little bit easier so I think it was a great decision for me.

“I think it’s getting difficult for everybody and I think of myself as strong-minded and mentally strong. I just recommend to everybody that they should work hard and get the results in the long run. If you struggle to motivate yourself especially with long term injuries then take some days off. Spend some time with your friends and family to recoup so you can come back with new energy to feel motivated again.

"Of course, it’s easier said than done but one must remember that the mind plays a massive role in recovery and training so it’s pointless to be involved in training when you made is not together. It’s important to take time out,” he said. 

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So about his international career since hasn’t received a call-up to the Austria national team and age is on not exactly on his side but then again he could get lucky and he gets to play for his native or maybe Bafana Bafana. It really isn’t that farfetched if one thinks about it: “I think to be honest playing for the Austrian national team at this rate has become unrealistic because we have a very, very strong team now and we already have the next generation already breaking and they are very good. Where I am considering myself very old, at 28 years and I don’t think I’d really want to be in a national team now. I feel like the youngsters are supposed to be coming through and doing the job so I am not really thinking about it.”

To wrap up the interview I asked Putsche if he would consider retiring here or eventually making his return to Europe and you have to admire his optimism in life; it’s something that easily rubs off on you when you spend more time with him.

He said: “Mmmm that’s a difficult one actually because I don’t think I’d want to play in the Austrian Bundesliga anymore and the chapter is closed. I don’t have time at this stage of my life to sidestep. Everything I do at this stage has to be a step forward whether it’s for private reasons or for football; so ideally going back wouldn’t be a change for me. 

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“So if I do go back to Austria it won’t be as a footballer; I think but it can always change because you never know what life may bring but it’s definitely not my plan to do so. Elsewhere in Europe, I could consider because there are some top leagues out there and it would be a new adventure but like I said it could happen in Austria if there is an attractive challenge then I’d take it.

“It’s the same as coming to South Africa. I have been here for three years and I was planning before to stay here for six months to a year but look I am still here. Life is unpredictable like that but I don’t want to dwell on things like that at this rate – but the next move is certainly not retirement.” (laughs).