Stellenbosch football legend Peter ‘Lucky’ Fisher is one of the unspoken heroes in Ida’s Valley football history. He spoke to SMF News’ Onthatile Mahlangu about his playing days and the impact he has made through soccer.
When Peter ‘Lucky’Fisher reminisces about the days he spent playing football, it is as if a core memory is unlocked. He is taken back to a time he almost cannot believe was real, and his laughter comes with disbelief.
A young Peter ‘Lucky’ Fisher in action during his professional football career. PHOTO: Onthatile Mahlangu
Loving football is embedded in his family. Fisher’s eyes get teary when he speaks about his father’s influence on him as a football player.
Fisher, now in his sixties, says his love for soccer was him following in his dad’s footsteps.
“My father played for the Western Province and the South African football team,” Fisher says. “I followed in his steps.”
His two sisters also played football.
“Football runs in our family. My late grandfather, Peter Fisher senior, passed it down to Peter (Lucky) Fisher junior,” says Garth le Roux, Fisher’s nephew.
Le Roux says he is proud to be associated with the family name.
“Many of my elders are classified as legends within football circles,” he says.
Fisher played professional football for sixteen years until he retired.
The first professional football club he played for was Hellenic. At the time, he was the only coloured person on the team.
Nonetheless, Fisher enjoyed being part of the team because most of the men were from overseas.
He says he loved making jokes on the field and doing what he did best: scoring goals.
Where it all began
Fisher, who grew up in Ida’s Valley, started playing soccer when he was eight years old.
While he cannot recall the exact year he first started playing professionally, he still remembers the teams he played for.
“I played for Vereeniging’s Old Boys F.C, Ida’s Valley FC, Amateur league, Cape Town Spurs, and Sparkling Stars,” Fisher says. “In my time, there was no one better than me. I played midfield.”
Badges of some of the football teams Peter Fisher once played for. Fisher played for Hellenic, Vereeniging Old Boys F.C, Ida’s Valley FC, Amateur league, Cape Town Spurs, and Sparkling Stars. PHOTO: Onthatile Mahlangu
Playing from the heart
Fisher says that during his playing days, the teams did not have sponsors. A win wasn’t tied to money. You played for the trophy.
A collection of medals and trophies earned by Peter ‘Lucky’ Fisher. They symbolise his successful football career and years of dedication and achievement. PHOTO: Onthatile Mahlangu
“It was tough that time, but we played from the heart. For us, you had to have skills and own ability in football,” he says.
When asked about the number of goals he had scored in his career, he let out a surprised laugh, shaking his head. “Iyoh,” he exclaimed as if he could not quite believe the count himself.
He recalls playing in the amateur league where he once scored ten goals in one game. He says sometimes he would score five goals per game.
He once injured his foot when they were playing a cup final, but he still managed to play and scored a goal with the injured foot.
If they lost a game, he would go straight home and not speak to anyone. “I talk to no one, even my girlfriend mustn’t come near me,” he says.
Playing overseas
One of Fisher’s dreams was to go play overseas. But because of the colour of his skin, he could not go. That left him devastated.
He now strongly advocates for non-discriminatory selection processes, also when it comes to money and influence.
Local teams are sometimes overlooked by national teams, and money speaks, he says.
Sometimes players are selected because they come from well-off families, which is unfair to those who are underprivileged and are skilful. This upsets him.
“If a player is good, you select him,” he says.
Playing with other legends
Fisher goes quiet when reflecting on the times he played alongside other legends.
He played alongside Doctor Khumalo, Jomo Sono, and Reggie Jantjies.
He still gets goosebumps when reflecting on the time that he played against Jomo Cosmos and played against Jomo Sono.
It was a privilege because you could not predict Jomo’s style of playing, he says.
“I thank God for the time [he gave me] in soccer. Thank you that I know these guys,” he says.
‘Father Figure’
Stellenbosch ward councillor Roy van Rooyen says he met Fisher in 2022. They started a programme called the Courts of Dreams, which interacts with kids from Ida’s Valley through sports.
“Fisher is responsible for the supervision of the facilities and coaching of young soccer players,” Van Rooyen says. “His knowledge is of great influence on the players.”
Van Rooyen says that since Fisher’s involvement, there is proper supervision, and no drinking or use of drugs is taking place.
In the past, the Ida’s Valley sports field was a place where people smoked dagga, drank, and broke beer bottles, claims Van Rooyen.
Due to the respect that the young people have for Fisher, that no longer happens, says Van Rooyen.
Le Roux says the local community is dear to him, and he shows compassion towards them.
“Fisher is involved with different community initiatives at both the football and church level,” says Le Roux.
“[Fisher] is like a father figure rather than a coach, and he is playing that role excellently. He is a positive role model,” Van Rooyen says. “He is like a brother to me; a mentor. And he is my partner in doing community upliftment.”
“He is respected within football circles, not just Stellenbosch but the broader Western Cape and country,” says Le Roux.
The now
Fisher is now a technical adviser at Ida’s Valley Football Club, where he gives kids advice on how to beat the player and how to score.
Children keep him grounded, and that is one of the reasons why he is still involved in the community.
Peter ‘Lucky’ Fisher is now a technical adviser at Ida’s Valley Football Club, where he gives kids advice on how to beat the player and how to score. He continues to play football during his free time. PHOTO: Onthatile Mahlangu
However, Fisher never stopped playing soccer. He refers to the sports field as his house because that is where he spends most of his time.
“I now play walking football where I can’t be tackled,” he says. “I don’t run with the ball, and I enjoy it.”
Fisher says even at his age, he is still learning about the game. “You can’t stop learning.”
Fisher’s advice to young football players is that they should listen to their coach.
“If you do not listen, you won’t go far,” Fisher says.