‘I was in a real dark place’

KICK OFF: How did you fall in love with the game?

Ashley du Preez: I started playing for a local club Nelsons FC from around the age of nine. I just loved it immediately, the game became everything to me. I would practice as much as I could and from very early on it was my dream to be a professional footballer. That was all I focussed on, and it was my goal. And I have never let that ambition die in me. Even today it is still as strong. I just love the game; I love playing and I love that this is my job.

You might have wanted it, but did you believe that you could be a professional player from so young?

I think I knew I had talent. That might sound arrogant, but I knew I could play. So that helped, and what was also important to me from very early on was that I make my family proud. I still feel like that today and it remains very important to me. I wanted to make something out of my life in football because I also looked around at the community here in