The Kaizer Chiefs Legends XI beat an uMlalazi XI 2-0 on Saturday. MacDonald Mukansi and Tsepo Molatedi scored the goals.

The match was played at the Eshowe Sports Club Stadium in Eshowe, the biggest city in the Greater Municipality of uMlalazi.

Before and after the legends match, games were played for the Mayoral Cup in which 26 wards participated.

The Chiefs legends also had a clinic on Saturday morning with about 50 kids under the age of 15 participating, although the average age was probably around 10.

Siyabonga Nkosi, Mukansi, Molatedi, Gerald Sibeko, Fabian McCarthy and Nhlanhla Kubeka were amongst the coaches.

“We not only do soccer drills with the youngsters,” comments Gardner Seale. “We also talk about life skills. These kids will obviously listen to what their parents tell them, but it’s always different when a Kaizer Chiefs Legend tells them about importance of education and the dangers of, for example, drugs and HIV/Aids.”

“However, us being there, also cuts the distance for these kids between Johannesburg and Eshowe,” adds Seale, “they normally don’t see Chiefs players up close, we are basically the players their fathers will talk about at home.”

Before going to the sport ground, the bus with the Chiefs players drove right through the centre of Eshowe, to the delight of the many Amakhosi supporters.

“The city basically came to a standstill,” raves uMlalazi’s mayor, TB Zulu. “That alone showed the importance of the Chiefs legends visiting Eshowe. We want to get young kids into sport, as we believe that sport will teach the youngsters discipline and with that they will work hard on their education as well. Sport and education goes hand in hand.”

“And, kids who are involved in sport won’t get bored and will therefore stay away from drugs,” adds the mayor, “being educated will also help get a job later in life. The visit of former players like Doctor Khumalo, Ace Khuse and so on will help motivate the kids to focus on sport and education and to not do drugs.”

One of the youngsters who participated in the clinic was the 14-years-old Fanele Ntshanga. “I learnt about how to properly shoot the ball,” he reflects full excitement.

After the clinics, the match between Chiefs and the uMlalazi XI started. There were about 3 000 enthusiastic spectators in the stadium, making loud noise whenever, for example, Khumalo showed his ball trickery.

Amakhosi scored two goals (both came after a cross from Arthur Zwane), but it was only thanks to uMlalazi’s excellent goalkeeper that the scoreline didn’t end up much higher.

Besides Khumalo, others who performed well were Nkosi, captain Cyril Nzama, Mukansi and legends debutant Gerald ‘Tso’ Sibeko.

Of course, local hero Derrick Spencer, who was born in Eshowe, was another favourite of the fans. The former Chiefs player will hold his own tournament in two weeks’ time in Eshowe, an Under-20 tournament.

After the match of the Amakhosi legends the final of the Mayoral Cup was played, Ward 12 against Ward 16 with the latter being the winner.

“This was a great event,” reacted goalkeeper Brian Baloyi after the cup final, “it was good to see the local government and the community coming together to promote sport, education and raise awareness.”

Kaizer Chiefs Legends XI: Baloyi; Nzama, Kubeka, Spencer, Seale (Manyathi); Zwane, Makua (Sibeko), Nkosi, Shongwe (Molatedi); Khumalo (McCarthy), Mukansi (Khuse)