‘Skipper’, as he is affectionately known at the Village, is the longest serving captain in the history of the Club. He spoke to kaizerchiefs.com about his playing days. The soft-spoken Development Coach spoke highly about the late Ariel ‘Pro’ Kgongoane, who is also a former captain at the Club.

My transfer...

It was back in 1970 when I was playing with Kaizer’s brother, Buti Motaung, in White City. In February that year he suggested that I join Kaizer Chiefs' second division. I was 18 at the time. In 1973 I was promoted to the first team. Chiefs had big players; Kaizer Motaung himself, the late Msomi Khoza, Banks Sethlodi, the late Ace Ntsoelengoe, Ratha Mokgoathleng, Pele Blascke, Ten-Ten Nzimande and many others.

My debut...

I made my debut for the Glamour Boys against a club called Dalton Brothers in Kimberly. We were playing in a ground in Geleshiwe. I remember we beat them 2-1. I played the whole game as a sweeper alongside Jackie Masike. I was nervous at first but my teammates helped me to settle as the game progressed. I then played as a rightback in my second game at the Club against Vaal Professionals in the Vaal. The late Terror Mphuthi was playing the rightback position at the Club then. We beat them 6-3.

My jersey...

I played with a different number when I first joined the Club but I do not remember the number. I was then given the jersey number 2 in 1975. I think I am the traditional owner of the jersey number 2 now being used by Jimmy Tau (Laughing).

My favourite goal...

I scored a stunner against a team called Blackpool in 1979 in a Mainstay Cup KwaMashu. I remember it was a free kick and Teenage (Dladla) passed the ball to me to score. It is the only goal I scored in more than a decade for the Club. I was a defender so I left scoring for Teenage and Ace (laughing).

The team I wanted to beat most...

Orlando Pirates because there was lot of competition between the two teams. We were almost all coming from Soweto. For instance, Webster Lechaba was staying a street away from my house in Mzimhlophe, Soweto. I always wanted to come out tops against them.

My favourite derby....

I still believe that the best Soweto derby ever is the Chevrolet semifinal against Orlando Pirates in 1975 at Rand Stadium. It was a night game. That night I played the best game of my life and the final score was 2 all. We beat them 5-4 on penalties to proceeded to the final to play Hellenic. They beat us 4-0 in Cape Town. I will never forget that game where they watered the pitch and we struggled to play. We beat them on the return fixture 2-1, becoming the first black team to beat a white team.

My friend...

I was very close to ‘Pro’ Kgongoane. He was a teacher by profession and really liked me. I remember he would take me with him when he went to Welberforce Training College, where also my teammate Bull Lehoko was studying. We would sleep together and then join the team the next day. He then fell ill and had to be hospitalised.

Ten Ten Nzimande was named as a captain of the team early 1975. I then took over the captain’s armband during the course of the year. It is still strange on how that happened.

We had a game in Polokwane and some of the guys did not come through and myself and Big Boy Kholoane were blamed that we instigated the move. We were both called to a DC at Conlyn House where the Club offices were located. We found the late Clarence Mlokoti, the late Ewert Nene, the late Coach Eddie Lewis and Kaizer Motaung. After long discussions, Big Boy, a good friend of mine in the team was excused. Eddie said to me, “I do not need you to say anything back. As from today you are taking over as the captain of the team.” I was really surprised because I thought I was going to be punished following the allegation. I will always be honoured to have captained the Glamour Boys.

I must say that I learnt a lot from the late Pro. He was a leader both on and off the field. Even though he was not punctual he was a disciplinarian and commanded respect in the team.

My favourite stadium...

Rand Stadium; if you ask any of the guys who played in the '70s and early '80s they will tell you the same thing.

My favourite coach...

Eddie Lewis. He helped me to defend against white players. ‘Stay on your feet’, he would always say when we came up against skillful players. He really helped my game as I came straight from second division.

Toughest opponent...

There is one opponent -- Ace Mnini -- who played for Moroka Swallows. He was a hell of a player and a good dribbler! I enjoyed my battles with him and I am sure even the fans always looked forward to the battles. He would sometimes go to the right, just like Messi is doing today but Eddie would insist -- ‘follow him’.

My naughtiest teammate...

Ace Ntsoelengoe was very naughty despite being quiet. I remember back in 1976 we were playing against Witbank Aces (known then as Witbank Black Aces). Ace and Banks arrived late while we were having breakfast at our hotel in Joburg. Eddie called them and told them to leave the camp. The two drove on their own with Ace’s car to Witbank. Eddie named Jackie Masike as a goalkeeper in Bank’s place.

On our arrival in Witbank, Jackie said, “I cannot play as a goalkeeper. The fans will kill me if we lose this game”. Eddie had to bend the rules and both Ace and Banks played. Ace as usual had one of his best games and we beat them 3-1.