“I dedicate this award to all the people at Kaizer Chiefs,” reacted Amakhosi Chairman Kaizer Motaung after having been given the Chancellor’s Medal from the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University on Friday.

The award was handed over during the university’s Autumn Graduation Ceremony at the Quest Conference Estate in Vanderbijlpark.

The rector at the Vaal Triangle Campus, Prof Thanyani Mariba, indicated that the Chancellor’s Medal is the highest award given to a non-academic person by the North-West University.

“The medal is given to visionaries towards the society they serve,” Prof Mariba said before handing over the award to the Chiefs Chairman. “It’s to recognise community leaders who not only inspire their community, but who enhance the South African society in its entirety.”

“Kaizer Motaung was given the medal as the creator of a global sports empire. As a professional sportsman, an administrator, a businessman and an entrepreneur, he has influenced and inspired generations of South Africans.”

The Chiefs Chairman reacted in a modest way to having received this prestigious medal: “I would like to thank the rector to give me this Chancellor’s Medal. I feel humbled and it’s very significant for me to get such an accolade. However, this is not so much about me, because I wouldn’t have been where I am without all the people who have helped me over the years. To them, I dedicate this medal.”

The Amakhosi and the Vaal Triangle Campus work together when it comes to the university availing its expertise to benefit the young soccer talents at the Club’s youth development.

“We tap into their recourses for academic opportunities,” Motaung explained the relationship. “Because we not only want to develop players at our academy, we also want to empower them as individuals.”

“We are very excited as well about the soon to be launched Kaizer Chiefs Innovation Centre, which will be based on the Vaal Triangle Campus. The Kaizer Chiefs/North-West University relationship has huge potential.”

At the closing of the ceremony, North-West University’s rector Prof Mariba added: “Congratulations to Kaizer Chiefs for winning the Absa Premiership.”