MIHLALI BALEKA
Deon Hotto is grateful that he saw the light during a dark time in his life, and that’s why he wants to give back to the masses by being at his best for Orlando Pirates.
Hotto has been an integral figure for the Sea Robbers, steering their ship to the Nedbank Cup, MTN8 and a second-place finish in the league last season. However, had he not changed his ways 12 years ago, there is a strong possibility that he’d be in prison, or dead.
Hotto recently revealed in Pirates docu-series The Changeroom that he was arrested for four months in 2012, due to criminal activities such as breaking into cars. However, after being released from prison, Hotto went to live with his uncle in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, where he focused on his football career.
He was signed by Golden Arrows in 2013 before moving to Bloemfontein Celtic and Bidvest Wits, the club which sold him to Pirates in 2020. Hotto is grateful that he left his criminal ways behind him as he’s now one of the most revered sporting figures in South Africa and back home in Namibia.
“When I had to reveal this, it was hard for me,” Hotto reflected. “But I had to reveal it because when I had to go home most of the people knew me as a naughty boy.
“Sometimes your naughtiness can become your smartness. I won’t say that I got a second chance or what, it’s just that I went through a dark place.
“So, I had to look back and ask myself whether I really want to be this person, or does God have something for me. Fortunately, he had something for me.
“Here I am today. I am a household name back home and here in South Africa. I am just grateful that I left that (life) behind.”
Hotto is indeed a household name in the country, having spent for four seasons at Pirates. He knows, though, that he couldn’t have done it all alone, reserving special praise for some people who have supported him over the years.
“I am just committed to my game, and my work,” Hotto explained. “This is my work, I take it very seriously.
“The support that I have also – from my wife, family, friends and young ones back home and here – keeps me going. I try to live a professional life.”
Hotto will be eager to take his game up a notch next season and will hope to guide the team to a coveted league title, which has eluded Pirates since the 2011/12 season.
Hotto was already one of the league’s best performers last season, only missing out on three games for Pirates due to injuries en route to their second-place finish for the second time in a row.
He proved his versatility and value at Pirates last term as coach Jose Riveiro used him as an attacker or wing-back. The 33-year-old said he’ll play wherever the coach wants him to, hence he didn’t mind covering for the left-backs when they were out injured.
“It’s not about being one of the best players for the coach, but what you do at training that gets you selected for the starting line-up,” Hotto said.
“For me to play in this position, I had to sit down with the coach. Sometimes people don’t understand that when I played left-back, (Innocent) Maela and (Paseka) Mako went for surgery.
“So, who was going to play there now? Are we going to play Patrick (Maswanganyi) or Relebohile (Mofokeng)?
“I don’t think so. Their defensive qualities are not good.”