Kaizer Chiefs Executive Chairman Kaizer Motaung celebrates a milestone of 80 years of life on 16 October, and former Amakhosi players spanning multiple decades have shared their memories of the Chairman and the meaningful impact he has had on their lives.

Jackie Masike (Kaizer Chiefs 1970- 1982)

As the Chairman celebrates 80 years of life, I look back upon his life and go back to my first interactions with him back in 1969. I have known ‘Bra K’ for 55 years and in all of this time I can say that he has been a very kind, honest and generous human being. I travelled with him for football and, in general, he was always and still is a welcoming person who looks out for his peers and is always happy to help. As a footballer, he was the best we had in the Kaizer XI and Kaizer Chiefs. He was a great team-mate and I wish him many more years of life.

Marks Maponyane (Kaizer Chiefs 1981 – 1991)

I spent a decade as a player at Kaizer Chiefs, 10 full years I was at the Club, and I have known him since then. When I was a player, I always remember how calm he was in stressful situations, not putting pressure on the players and the coaches. When the need arose and enough was enough, that was when he came to the fore. He never interfered in people’s work. That is when we were able to spread our wings and do what we could do best. As a person, he was also very calm and I never heard him over the years talk at the top of his voice. Twenty years after I left, he give me the Chairman’s award at a Kaizer Chiefs awards function, It was touching. The words he used to describe me as a person and the time we had together spoke volumes of his kind-hearted personality. A man like him deserves to live to 80 and beyond, and I wish a happy birthday to him.

Doctor Khumalo (Kaizer Chiefs 1987 – 2003)

Mr. Chairman, I would like to wish you a very happy birthday. I hope and wish that you enjoy your day, and may Almighty God bless you, give you strength and prosperity in everything that you are doing, I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavours. I want to say thank you very much for giving me the opportunities and for taking care of my future. I would not have been who I am today if it was not for your guidance. Thank you, and I wish you all the best of luck. May the Lord give you more strength. Happy Birthday.

Neil Tovey (Kaizer Chiefs 1989-1999)

I would like to wish the Chairman a happy 80^th birthday. May he be blessed with many more. I would like to thank him for the opportunity he gave me, not only as a footballer but as a person. It was unbelievable that his door was always open to have not just a football discussion but a discussion about life. I would like to wish him a fabulous day and may it last for eternity.

Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs 2005 – 2024)

The Chairman was and is a father figure to me and someone who was always willing to pass on advice. He knew a lot about goalkeeping and used to tell me about previous goalkeepers and how they would train. He also told me how to trick players in a penalty shoot-out. He is very humble and someone who always makes himself available to pass on advice, not just about football but life in general. I am happy that I have become the man that I am today because of his contributions to South Africa and my life in general. My wish is for him to continue to be blessed with more years so that he can continue to contribute to the next generations of South African footballers. I am grateful for what he has done for me, and thank him very much.