The 40th anniversary of Amakhosi magazine listed Doctor Khumalo as second ‘Best Kaizer Chiefs player ever’ behind the late, Ace Ntsoelengoe. Many thought Khumalo, currently a Development Coach is the best player to have donned the gold and black.

He sat down to talk to kaizerchiefs.com about how Executive Chairman, Kaizer Motaung and Sam Motaung contributed in making him one of the best.

My nickname…

My nickname is 16V! (Laughing) I am still not sure where it came from but I think it is from the fans. I had lot of nickames. ‘Bathathebonke’, did you say ‘Pretty Boy’ (laughing). I will have to come back to you about other nicknames but the one I remember is ‘16V’.

My jersey number…

When I made my first appearance in a gold and black in 1987 Iwisa Maize Meal I was given no. 16 by the late, Tikkie Khoza. I was not really thinking about the numbers I was just thinking about wearing the gold and black. Then Chiefs had the cream of South African football, the late Ace Ntsoelengoe, Teenage Dladla, Bra City Kole, Scara Thindwa, Trevor Mthimkhulu, and Chippa Molatedi. Here I was in the same room with all these great players.

It was only when I made my official debut against Cosmos after couple of weeks that I was given the no. 15 jersey. It was again the late Tikkie Khoza who gave me the no. 15 that I used until I retired officially in 2004.

NB: The number 15 jersey was officially retired by the Executive Chairman, Kaizer Motaung when Doctor Khumalo finally hanged up his boots.

My transfer…

I used to follow my late father, Pro Khumalo where ever he went. One day Bra Sam (Motaung) invited me to come and train with the development at Alcker Stadium in Rockville, Soweto. I was staying in Dube and it was really difficult and at times I would come home with one boot because the guys would have taken the other one. Bra Sam though driving a Chevrolet used to transport us and he would have about eight of us in the car.

I used to be in the dressing room with the senior team before big games but it was not until when I, Bobby and Thabo Motaung had visited the late Ace Rathebe who used to play with my dad in Brits. It was after that visit that I signed for Kaizer Chiefs.

I played a game in Brits and Maponi from Orlando Pirates was there to watch the game and he recommended me to his team. Bobby might have noticed this and he called the Chairman immediately.

Bobby has always been a spy even at an early age (laughing)…if it was not for him I would have signed for Orlando Pirates. The next day I signed for Kaizer Chiefs first team at our offices then in Jeppes Street, Johannesburg.

Orlando Pirates arrived at 9pm the same day with three bags full of money. My father just showed them the copy of the contract. I was a Chiefs player!

My biggest break…

It was the in the Maize Meal, even though I was in the squad but I never thought Ted was going to start with me on that game. I mean all the big guns were there…in the tunnel, I remember saying to the late Ace, ‘I forgot something in the dressing room?’ He looked at me and said ‘you going nowhere’.

I wanted to go back to Commissioner Street and take a taxi to Soweto. The night before my parents had spoken to Ted pleading with him not to play me because I was skinny. I was so skinny and my dad was insisting, ‘do no play him’. There was 60 000 screaming fans at Ellis Park. I was shaking. I am told my mother never watched the game. She apparently locked herself in the bedroom while the game was on.

As younger players we had lot of respect for the senior players. I remember I used to wash Ace’s car as a younger player in those days. In fact this is what I used to do myself, Fani (Madida), Abel (Shongwe) and other younger players in the team.

I had a good game scoring on my debut and after that I never looked back. I was always on top of my game every time we face Pirates.

My debut…

I made my official debut against Jomo Cosmos after couple of weeks I had featured in the Maize Meal. I am grateful to Ted Dimitru for giving my Chiefs debut. We were playing a double header at Ellis Park. Good memories!

My best buddy/Roommate…

I was close to Ntsie (Maphike), Abel Shongwe then I was close to Ace Khuse when he joined us in 1989. I used to share a room with them. Ntsie and Ace liked to sleep early and for me I would sit up until very late watching TV.

It was all focus on the day ahead of the game, no messing around! At Chiefs when you sign you were given a Code of Conduct, you knew what was expected of you in camp ahead of the game.

My favourite goal…

The goal I scored in the last 10 minutes in the semifinals of the Bob Save Super Bowl against Orlando Pirates. It was a tight game and it needed something special to win it. I remember dragging Jurry Bantwana along before beating William Okpara from a tight angle.

My favourite stadium…

Kings Park, now Absa Stadium in Durban! I always had good games there. The one that comes to my mind is the JPS Final in 1988 when we beat Jomo Cosmos 3-1. I played a one-two with Teenage Dladla before scoring next to the corner flag.

My toughest opponent…

Doctor Khumalo! If I am mentally ready for the game I knew that no one will stop me. I had my off days but few, on those days then I was not up to it. I never used to think about opponents but about myself. I enjoyed playing against the likes of Ernest Chirwali (Mtawali), Roger Feutmba, Harris Cheou and many others. I was always fired up for those games.

The team I wanted to beat most…

I wanted to beat all the teams! Thing is at Chiefs every game you play it was like a cup final. Yes, of course it was important to beat Orlando Pirates…no one wants to lose the Soweto derby!

My most memorable derby…

The derby that comes to mind is the Castle Challenge Final in 1991 when we beat Orlando Pirates 2-1 at FNB Stadium. I was on fire that day creating goals for Fani Madida and Ace Khuse to score. The goal Fani scored that afternoon was top class!

I ran the rings around Orlando Pirates defence the whole afternoon. I think they assigned about four different guys to look after me in that game but no one came with an answer. Tebogo (Moloi) was on the bench and complaining, ‘stop him’. I was unstoppable that afternoon.

What makes the game so memorable was that on Thursday before the game I had an argument with then Coach, Jeff Butler and I walked out at training! The next day the Chairman came to my house, ‘no one is bigger than this game’, and I remember him telling me. He told me that what I did was ‘unacceptable’.

He was very upset with me and reminded me that ‘when you want to fight a Coach, do that with your talent on the field of play,’ He got me fired up…I wanted to go there and show the Coach that I can play football and things worked out for me and the team as we won the trophy.

I realised that day the importance of being disciplined as a professional and I am always grateful that at Chiefs I was surrounded by people at my early age who were always willing to show me the right way.

My favourite Coach…

(Laughing)…a colleague, Emmanuel Khumalo suggests, “Phillip Trouser”, Doctor replied, no, no, no I do not think so.

Doctor continued: I am going to give you three, Jeff Butler brought the best in me but there was misunderstanding. I always think he was targeting me. I used to complain all the time to the Chairman about him. We won lot of trophies under him.

Ted gave me my debut and taught me things I was not aware of and Paul Dolezar. I was playing in the USA when I arrived at Chiefs, he said, “Doc I wait for you” in his voice. It was hilarious. I enjoyed my football under Paul.

My best memory…

It was special to win every trophy with Kaizer Chiefs but there is no feeling that can match winning the Mandela Cup under Muhsin Ertugral in 2001 at Ellis Park. It was difficult as we had few players and at that time I was already an assistant coach and I would be with Muhsin and the late Jackson for other games in the bench.