3 games, 3 clean sheets for new Tuks keeper Leathan Croats

The Stripe Generation have a new man in between the sticks in a form of Leathan Croats and already shown his abilities in the opening clashes and is yet to concede a goal. We chatted with the 2024 Varsity Football winner and found out more about his football journey.

Tell us about your upbringing, where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Mitchells Plain in Cape Town, a place filled with gang violence, alcohol abuse and those things but my parents did a great job in keeping me away from the streets but kept me interested in school and sports.

You had a successful season with UWC last year. How did your Tuks move come about?

At UWC I had two successful seasons, which is Varsity Football 2023 where we missed out by losing to TUT in the semi-final and last year where we won the tournament. My move to Tuks I didn’t expect but now I am happy to be here.

Did you always played as a goalkeeper and how did you become a keeper?

I used to play as a striker in my younger days, when I was 9 years old the team I was playing for was Golden United. Our goalkeeper did not pitch for the game one day and the coach asked who wants to be a goalkeeper for today. So I was on the bench, and I said I just want to play regardless of the position. I said give me the gloves and I will stand in, I had an outstanding game and from there onwards I never looked back and enjoyed playing in the goals.

I always see Moneep Josephs in you, because of how you read the game and agility. Which goalkeeper do you look up to?

I grew up watching Moneeb Josephs week in week out, I remember one time he came to Mitchell Plain LFA with a bunch of tickets and gave out tickets to everyone who was playing. He even provided us with tickets to Athlone stadium. That was one of the best experiences I’ve had and also being able to watch him live. I started looking up to him from there. Currently I look up to Ronwen Williams, but a lot my attributes, passion and the mentality I have comes from looking up to and watching Josephs from a young age.

How is it like playing in Varsity Football and how has football changed your life?

Varsity Football given me an opportunity to revive my career, the platform itself and the amount of impact it has on my life as a footballer. I used to play in the NFD from the age of 18, I had about three and a half seasons in the NFD (played for TS Galaxy and TS Sporting). I moved back down to ABC and that point of my career I thought it felt like I was at my lowest, due to lack of exposure and Varsity Football came and allowed me to be seen. That uplifted my spirit and motivation to push even further, the platform that Varsity Football has been amazing, it gave me another chance to be successful again.

What are your football aspirations?

My short-term goal is to break into NFD match-day squad at Amatuks and PSL and the ultimate is to play overseas. But the biggest dream is to allow people to see goalkeeping from a different perspective in terms judging goalkeepers by their height. So, when younger goalkeepers come through people can remember me that would allow them to give shorter goalkeepers fair opportunities.

Fixtures: HERE  

Tickets: HERE.

By: Lehlogonolo Ditshego