A Decade of Success - John Shoes Moshoeu
A Decade of Success - John Shoes Moshoeu

Posted in News on Jan 06, 2010.

In our continued review of players who have left an indelible mark on the history of Kaizer Chiefs over the last decade, kaizerchiefs.com looks back at the achievements of John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu.

Shoes originally joined Chiefs from Highlands Park in 1993 but left midway through his first season with The Amakhosi to pursue what would turn out to be a highly successful club career in Turkey. Nine years later at the beginning of the 2002 – 2003 season he returned to Chiefs where he would spend four trophy laden seasons with the club and in addition would play a huge role during Chiefs back to back league successes during the 2003 -2004 and 2004 – 2005 seasons.



Turning back time



Many doubters questioned Chiefs logic in bringing back Moshoeu to the club in July 2002 at the age of 36 and were roundly criticised for the move, as he had done throughout his career the ultimate professional that he is Moshoeu who had kept himself in peak physical shape despite his age.

Got down to the job at hand and despite Chiefs having a challenging season Moshoeu remained one of their star performers and contributed by scoring eight league goals, his stand out performance came as Chiefs defeated Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates who were to eventually be crowned league champions that season. Lead by an inspirational Moshoeu Chiefs won the match against their arch rivals 2-0 with the dynamic midfielder scoring one and setting up another for David Radebe on his way to winning the man of the match award.



League Champion



The following season Moshoeu was at the heart of Chiefs title challenge as they broke an eleven year drought and lifted the league title at the end of the 2003 – 2004 season, he top scored for Chiefs that season with a total of eleven goals in all competitions.

He scored four goals in the first three matches of the season which included a goal against Mamelodi Sundowns on the opening day of the season, two games later he bagged a hat trick in another match winning performance as he helped Chiefs defeat Black Leopards 5-0.

That was the first of two hat tricks he would bag that season as he scored another later on during the campaign during a 4-1 Chiefs win over Amazulu on the 16th May 2004.



Silverware

During his return to Chiefs the always youthful Moshoeu helped the Amakhosi win two Coca Cola Cups in 2003 – 2004 as well as 2004 – 2005 and was instrumental in both league triumphs in 2003 – 2004 and 2004 – 2005. Moshoeu’s final game for Chiefs was to help the Amakhosi defeat Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates on the 20th May 2006 as Chiefs lifted the 2005 – 2006 Absa Cup Trophy in Durban, rounding off four successful seasons during his second spell with Chiefs wherein he managed to win two league and three cup titles.

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