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Nickname's are an integral part of South African football. Nicknames often give players the feel of acceptance, they can also make or break a player. One of the most famous nicknames in South Africa is "Terror", one person who carried this nickname is Thembinkosi Fanteni.
Thembinkosi Fanteni was given the nickname 'Terror' by his youth coach due to how he “Terrorises' defences.” Fanteni started terrorising defences in the Absa Premiership when he was at Ajax Cape Town and soon he moved to European shore in Israel when he caused terror in the Ligat ha'Al playing for Maccabi Haifa.
Thembinkosi Fanteni joined Maccabi Haifa mid season in January of 2008, it only took five games for the Paarl born native to cause terror in Israel. He announced himself to Maccabi Haifa the only way he knows how, by striking the back of the net; he scored a brace against Maccabi Netanya. He continued his fine form in the next game by scoring against Kiryat Shmona. The man was living up to his nickname.
Fanteni's finest moment upon his arrival came in one of the biggest derby in Israel, Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv are renowned rivals in the world of football. Maccabi Haifa hosted Maccabi Tel Aviv, this was a big game and Terror came alive.
The game began in unpopular fashion for Fanteni's Maccabi Haifa as they fell behind early on in the to a Adam Masudi goal. However, Maccabi Tel Aviv's lead would not last long as Fanteni levelled matters minutes later. On the stroke of halftime 'Terror' scored his second goal of the game, giving Maccabi Haifa a 2-1 lead at the interval. In the second half, at the hour mark, Adam Masudi equalised to get Maccabi Haifa back in the game. In an instant though, three minutes later Fanteni got his third goal of the game to restore his teams one goal lead. Terror was had quite an eventful afternoon, as by the 77th minute he went into the referee’s book. With 10 minutes left in the game, Maccabi Tel Aviv took the game to 3-3 courtesy of a goal from Dor Malul and that's how the game would end.
A hatrick against Maccabi Tel Aviv was what Fanteni couldn't have imagined. That was an experience and moment to treasure, as the lively feisty display surely made Terror a cult hero to the Maccabi Haifa fans, instantly. He ended his first season with six goals in 14 games, a decent start to life in Israel, that start left room for high expectations for Fanteni from the club and its fans.
"They expect me to score a lot of goals, there was lots of talk before I came to Maccabi Haifa, they are expecting so much from me," said Fanteni in an interview.
Moving to a new country is always difficult, one of the toughest things in football as players have to adjust to a new challenges such as squad integration, language barriers, lifestyle misfit, and missing of family. Fanteni had his fair share of going through that tribulation but as time went on he settled it with the rest of the Maccabi Haifa squad.
"I'm not isolated anymore as I when I first came to Maccabi Haifa; all the players are like my brothers now, I know them very well, we are close to each other, I can talk to anyone now". When asked if he can lead Maccabi Haifa to the championship and the promise land of the UEFA Champions League, Terror Fanteni replied "I prefer not to talk, we'll have to wait and see."
In the 2008/09 season Fanteni, like an MVP, lead Maccabi Haifa to the promise land. In their run to being league champions he contributed with 11 goals being the clubs top scorer. The season for Terror was epitomised by a series of braces. The first one was against Maccabi Petah Tikva, the second against his favourite opponents Maccabi Tel Aviv, the last one came against Kiryat Shmona in 2-1 win. During the course of the season, Fanteni was booked seven times, he was truly causing terror in Israel.
Thembinkosi Fanteni went to Israel and conquered. He terrorised defences, brought joy to the fans by scoring goals and with celebrations. If the man would visit Maccabi Haifa he would be given a hero's welcome, because he left his mark on the field in Israel.
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