The passing on, on the 5th December 2013 of Madiba has not only affected South Africa but has also affected the rest of the world.

Kaizer Chiefs’s Executive Chairman Kaizer Motaung has shared his memories of the late Icon Nelson Mandela (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013). Mr Motaung has shared his memories during the Club’s homage visit at the late Madiba’shome in Houghton on Monday, 9th December 2013.

“We are grateful to be afforded this opportunity to visit the family and pay our last respects to the late Icon Nelson Mandela. We understand that the family is going through pain at this moment. Some of us grew up very close to Madiba in Orlando. We have learned so many lessons that we have used to navigate through the journey of life.

I was privileged on numerous occasions to receive a call fromMadiba. At one instance he called me to his home and I came here wondering what the Statesman was looking for, from an ordinary citizen like me. Madiba had a way to make you feel at home with his sense of humour. Humility was his greatest asset. At another stage he also called us as Football Leadership to the Union Building to discuss and agree to support him in his bid to ask the Nation to allow the Springbok emblem to be retained for the sake of unity.

He supported all the football Clubs but had a special love for Chiefs. He would call me to wish us good luck on the eve of the Derbies against Pirates and major Cup finals. He would call to congratulate us after winning and similarly call when we lost. He reminded me that in sports you lose some and win some. The Madiba magic was felt when we won the African Cup Winners' Cup (Mandela Cup) named after him in 2001 and in 2002 Madiba opened our premises, Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena.

I remember the Fifa delegation in tears when he took them toRobben Island to see his prison cell. He took them through the prison cell. In his retired state, Madiba was able to accompany us to the announcement when South Africa was awarded to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The announcement was made in Zurich, on 15 May 2004.

No words can express how Madiba impacted the world. Please receive our deepest and heartfelt condolences and may the Peace of the Lord be with you in this time,” said an emotional Motaung.

Rest in Peace Madiba