As Kaizer Chiefs celebrates its 39th year of existence, it is imperative to salute one of the ‘founding fathers’, Thomas “Zero My Hero” Johnson. Born in 1942, Zero started his career at Heidelberg Happy Hearts, he then joined Springs Home Sweepers, went to Pimville Real Rovers and Mofolo Dynamos. It was with Orlando Pirates that he made a name for himself in the 60s. His combination with the late Percy “Chippa” Moloi and Kaizer Motaung was marvel to watch.

In this interview, “Zero My Hero” took kaizerchiefs.com down the memory lane on how the Club was formed.

What goes through your mind when you are reminded of 7th January 1970?

(Takes a pause) The formation of Kaizer Chiefs! I remember vividly like it was yesterday. I remember after our struggles at Pirates, myself, Kaizer and Ratha (Mokgoatlheng), Msomi Khoza and the late Ewert Nene decided to form a club. Kaizer was very helpful, his knowledge as he was playing his trade overseas helped a lot in setting up the club. I remember when he came back from the USA; we waited for him to arrive at the airport and briefed him of what was happening at Orlando Pirates. He tried his best to intervene but he could not succeed. It was after a successful tour of Kaizer XI that we decided to form Kaizer Chiefs.

How did you decide on the name Kaizer Chiefs?

Kaizer was very famous (laughing). We thought we would be able to attract a big following if we keep the name ‘Kaizer’. Kaizer had the looks, the style and was playing overseas so people would want to see him. The association would not allow us to use Kaizer XI. We then decided on Kaizer Chiefs as also Kaizer was playing for Atlanta Chiefs in USA.

What do you regard as a turning point in the formation of the Club?

The success of Kaizer Chiefs XI in 1969. We hammered teams during our tour and played a brand of football that fans liked. We had recruited the best players in the country...we felt stronger than other Soweto based teams, Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows. That to me was a turning point...there was no turning back. A new baby was born.

You became the first coach for the Club and got the ball rolling winning the first trophy (Stylo Cup in 1970) for the Club...

I doubled as both the player and the coach. I helped groom players like Ace Ntsoelengoe, Banks Sethlodi and many others. We went on to win the Life Cup in 1971, 1972 UTC Super Team Cup and the Sales House Champ of Champs in the same year. I left the Club in 1973 to take up a full-time coaching job in Botswana with Gaborone United and the Botswana national team.

Any fond memories you want to share with the current generation?

I remember when we brought Banks (Sethlodi) and Ace Ntsoelengoe to the Club, Ace was fine and played immediately not Banks! He might have stayed in the sidelines for about a year as we had a goalkeeper by the name of Jaguja (from Vaal) who was doing well for us. He did not pitch up for the game against Swallows one afternoon and Banks kept the goals. I am yet to see a performance like that from a keeper. He was super on the day stopping everything. He went on to keep the goals for more than a decade. He used to be in goals even if he was injured. Players need to be patient - not everyone can play at the same time.

Give us your best eleven...

It’s tough as we had good players even on the bench. In goals, Banks Setlhodi, right-back will be Terror Mphuthi, on the left it will be Gerald “Mgababa” Dlamini, I will have ‘Ten Ten’ Ndzimande together with Jackie “Asinamali” Masike to complete the back line. In the midfield, I will have Ariel “Pro” Khungoane, Vusi “Computer” Lamola, on the right Pele Blaschke and Ace Ntsoelengoe on the left with Shaka Ngcobo and Michael “Bizzah” Dlamini as strikers. Myself and Kaizer we would sit outside and wait for when the ‘going gets tough’ (laughing)

What is your message to the team?

Forget about the past years! Focus on the present and the future...Chiefs is about winning and I have full confidence in the current generation. All the best!!!!