On his 70th birthday, Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung opens up about five people who have inspired him.

In alphabetical order:

John F. Kennedy

“He was a very powerful president of the United States. He made a big impact before he died in 1963.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

“As a black person I was moved by Martin Luther King Jr. He was an incredible leader, he carried the aspirations of all the black people in the United States. He was championing the cause of justice, respect and equality. In fact, I was with Atlanta Chiefs when he was killed in Atlanta in 1968.”

Nelson Mandela

“Locally, nobody can overlook Nelson Mandela. Every South African looked up at him as a champion of our cause. He ably did that and he demonstrated leadership qualities. He also demonstrated unselfishness. When Mandela was released from jail, I learnt to appreciate his wisdom after getting the opportunity to interact with him. I also got to understand and appreciate his sense of humour.”

Ceyland Motaung

“Obviously, my father was a very influential force in my soccer career. He supported me immensely when it came to guidance. As a father, he wanted to see me going places and he pushed me to become a lawyer. But then, other things overtook his ambition in terms of schooling and, instead of becoming a lawyer, I decided to concentrate on soccer.”

Pelé

“When it comes to soccer, I have a lot of respect for the Brazilian legend Pelé. He inspired all aspiring young sports people in the late sixties, including me, due to his phenomenal talent as a player.”