There is a new Schoeman on the horizon – Cole, oldest son of the former Bafana Bafana defender Frankie.
Unlike his father, whose job it was to foil strikers and to prevent conceding goals, Cole’s talents lie further upfield on attack – to not only torment and strike fear in opposing defenders and goalkeepers but to bang in goals in the nets like a king.
And Cole, who has recently been roped in by the ABC Motsepe League outfit, Antalyaspor Cape Town, is showing his worth and that he has what it takes to carve out a (professional) career and to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
Unfortunately, his recent trial period in Turkey with Africa Camp Officials was unsuccessful but the former Woodridge College learner says it was not “the end of the world.”
“But I leant a heck of a lot during this time (55 days) from a coach that does not even speak English but I made sure that I took away the positives,” Cole explained. “This is also where the support of my dad comes in with more of the mental side and he assists me mentally because there will be a lot of ups and downs in this game, probably more downs than ups and he is just on that mentality aspect motivating me to keep going and to keep pushing.
“His words are affirmations that keep me going through my career also and just to know what he has also done. And obviously what he says should be valid, you know. But there is no pressure from his side. He helps me here and there wherever I need to be and I appreciate that kind of support. Not to mention the support and compassion from my mom Stacey. I must add that nothing gets past my mom as she is the disciplinarian in the house, ” Cole jokingly added.
Nagging injuries not only robbed his dad of a promising and glittering career, but it also deprived the 23-year-old Cole and younger brother Cody (21) of witnessing their dad in his heyday.
Hence the anecdotes, tales and video clips on what was are the only memories that they can admire and appreciate as they were too young to appreciate how a boy from a ghetto area of Gelvandale in Port Elizabeth made it to the highest stage in football.
“We saw some Bafana Bafana clips of my dad and there were two from Denmark when he was playing in Denmark but it was all on the old cassettes,” Cole further explained.
Cola’s as Cole is better known, admitted that despite missing out on this he did have the honour and privilege of sharing a (soccer) field with his father albeit in the amateur ranks.
“Me and my brother we actually played in a local league, all three of us we played in the same team like a reserve team for one of our local teams in PE (Port Elizabeth) and it was fun and an honour for us,” he further added,
“But yeah growing up it was always nice hearing ‘Joh! Your father was this and your father was that and so yeah, it was nice seeing all your father’s jerseys and the players that he exchanged with and so all of that it’s very inspiring as a small boy growing up, wearing all these things and posting his man of the match awards with his trophies and all of that was very nice.
“But it also serves as an eye opener for what I can work and strive for, you know. Taking his success in through my eyes and making sure I carry on the Schoeman legacy.”
Cole, a former Cape Town Spurs player announced his arrival in the Second Division with two goals against Oriented Birds in Antalyaspor’s last game before the festive break – his heroics also turned out to be a match winning performance for his new club and to help maintain their 100 percent record in stream B of the ABC Motsepe League campaign.
“I was just happy that I could contribute and add value to the team you know,” Cole stated. “As a striker you always want to score but you need to contribute in other forms as assists as well. So I have set a target of 15 goals for the season and hopefully I can achieve that but firstly I want to help the team win the league and promotion.”
The irony is that Cole could easily have carved out careers in rugby, cricket and hockey as he was equally as good and competent in these sporting codes.
But it was his love for the beautiful game and the seeds planted by his dad which made his decision to pursue football a no brainer.
Cole pointed out that as deep as his love for sport runs, he needs to also commit to his studies and to complete his education degree at the University of the Western Cape in the near future.
“I am looking to go back next year, second semester and back in the swing of my studies as well. So, I have more years left to finish and that is also a big priority of mine.”
