The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) hosted a breakfast event today in honour of three ‘South African fathers of soccer’, Kaizer Motaung, Chairman of Kaizer Chiefs, his counterpart at Orlando Pirates, Irvin Khoza and Jomo Sono, owner of Jomo Cosmos. Executives from the stock exchange and members of the football family were in attendance to pay tribute to this trio of South African cultural icons.

“We saw it fit to recognise the significant contribution and sacrifices these three fathers of football made in South Africa over the years,” said Nicky Newton King, CEO of the JSE.

The three giants of South African football were given the honour of opening the market trading at 9am this morning - Khoza blew the horn, Motaung was on the drums in tandem with the JSE’s Chief Executive, while Sono blew the vuvuzela, which drew raucous cheers from the crowded floor.

“It’s a special day for us and we would like to thank the Board of the JSE for the honour and recognition bestowed upon us,” noted Chairman Motaung. “It is great to note that business in South African acknowledges the positive contribution of soccer to the growth of the economy and the GDP.”

Motaung surprised many by revealing that his first job after leaving school was at the JSE, working for a stock brokers company called Max Pollac and Freemantle in the 1960s. He added that it was a great learning opportunity, because the experience taught him to think like a business person from a young age. He went on to thank his family for their sacrifices as well as the football family at large for the support and contribution.

Adding to the festive spirit of the occasion was the fact that it’s today the Orlando Pirates Chairman's birthday. The crowd sang for him before he delivered his keynote address. Motaung wished Khoza well on this special day.

2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the birth of the PSL and Khoza expressed his gratitude to the JSE for saluting this achievement. He urged the media representatives to start covering the business side of football and report about the immense contribution as well as the positive impact the game has on the economy and its growth.

In September 2015, the Chairman was honoured by the University of the North West, Vaal Campus, for his contribution and dedication to the development of football.

Sono felt humbled to be appreciated while he’s still alive: “It is common practice that one is only recognised when they are no longer on earth. However, we would like to applaud the JSE for this accolade.”

‘Chincha Guluva’ also touched on the upcoming Soweto Derby that will see Orlando Pirates host Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on Saturday. His only wish was to do to Pirates what Cosmos did to the Buccaneers on Saturday at Olen Park