Posted in News on Apr 28, 2002.
Sports fundis and football fanatics came in droves to support this occasion, which was partly aimed at raising funds for the Takalani Home for the mentally handicapped.
Y-FM and Iwisa did their part in providing top class entertainment, with Y-FM also broadcasting some of their programmes live from the venue.
Celebrities and corporate gurus shed their conventional images in favour of the more relaxed soccer outfit to showcase what they might have termed “talent”.
Some were super fit (but I would never encourage any of them to give up their day jobs) while others simply shamed the term “fitness”.
Nevertheless, it was kick, huff, puff and “Laduuuma”. Do not ask the scores, as most were not a true reflection of the games.
The centre of attraction was the exhibition match between the Kaizer Chiefs first team and the former stars - the Kaizer Chiefs Legends, fresh from their 2-1 victory against the Football Masters at Bafokeng on Saturday.
A line-up with Thabo "Tsiki-Tsiki" Mooki in goals, Rowen Fernandez and Brain "Spiderman" Baloyi in attack looked like a recipe for disaster.
And when Jan "Malombo" Lechaba, Abel "Chaklas" Shongwe, Fani "Didiza" Madida and Donald "Ace" Khuse started exhibiting their skills, it looked like the "youngsters" were heading for a serious hammering.
Chaklas blasted three goals past Tsiki-Tsiki following some great interchanges between Ace and Didiza, complemented by feeble defending by the Chiefs of today.
Tsiki-Tsiki, realising he was not as good with his hands as he is with his feet, opted for what he normally does best.
After saving another threat from Chaklas, instead of clearing upfield, Tsiki-Tsiki controlled well with his feet and raced into the opposition area where he blasted the ball against the maze of defenders for Kenny Niemach to bring some respectability to the scoreline.
As expected, the Legends soon lost their pace and were forced to make some changes, but they still managed to pull a rabbit or two out their hats, showing the young ones how they are supposed to juggle the ball.
Malambo got a yellow card from the hostile match official, much to surprise of the supporters. As there were no linesmen, the only conclusion was that Malombo said something the referee did not like or that he was booked for an off-the-ball incident.
Lucky Staliano, one of the fresh legs in the second half, pulled a shibobo on Fernandez, and Tsiki-Tsiki, still in goal, was not impressed at all.
In the second half Tsiki-Tsiki took his place outfield with defender Gary Goldstone in goals and Mooki proved to be a menace for the Legends as he gave them a dose of their own medicine, much to the delight of the crowd. He also managed a “spy-two” on Dididza as the young ones slowly took control of the match.
Goldstone never used his hands, however, except for the occasional typical defender’s clearance as ringmaster Tsiki-Tsiki, prancing like a peacock whenever in possession, tormented the Legends.
The score ended up 4-3 in favour of the Chiefs of today with Brian Baloyi and Niemach each scoring a brace.
Don’t rule out the possibility of Spiderman turning up as a striker in future or Chaklas and Ace making their comeback in the famous black and gold!
The overall winners on the day were Wits Invitation, who controversially beat Chiefs management 3-2 in the semifinals, before going on to beat Iwisa 2-1 in the final.
Iwisa, co-sponsors of the event, had to deal with Swallows before reaching the final and it was not an easy task as they needed a penalty shootout to finally down the Birds.
