Posted in News, Team News on Jan 27, 2020.
Zebulon ‘Sputla’ Nhlapo is a bubbly personality.
And as he proudly puts on Kaizer Chiefs’ new commemorative 50th anniversary jersey, the club’s exciting former winger can’t stop gushing as the memories come flooding back.
“This jersey reminds me of the team with the likes of Pelé Blaschke, Ace Ntsoelengoe and Computer Lamola,” he enthuses, while proudly wearing the historic jersey at a special club photoshoot.
“I can feel it, it brings back fantastic memories. I love this jersey!” Nhlapo blurts out.
Nhlapo was a technically gifted and speedy winger, much loved by the Amakhosi faithful in the same vein they loved the likes of skilful tricksters such as ‘Shakes’ Kungwane, Jabu Pule and ‘Scara’ Ngobese.
Some might remember better the winger, Nelson ‘Teenage, Dladla on the right flank, rather than Sputla because, as the club’s former striker Marks ‘Go-Man-Go’ Maponyane explains:
“Teenage was exceptional, but Sputla was also very, very good. One can compare it with Barcelona’s attack a few seasons ago – Neymar, Suárez and Messi. Neymar was really good, but everybody looked at Messi, because he’s a player from another planet.”
Then, Maponyane adds with a smile on his face, “I was like Suárez. I played with two brilliant wingers, Nhlapo on the left and Dladla on the right. I got provided with so many good balls from either flank, all I needed to do was tap the ball in goal.”
Nhlapo was born on 7 October 1960 in KwaThema, joining the Glamour Boys at the age of 19 in early 1980. Even though he was then still very young, ‘Sputla’ was part of that formidable side that won the quadruple in 1981.
Another fantastic year arrived in 1984, when he was in the Chiefs team that won all the trophies on offer. Despite being such an influential member of that brilliant side of the 1980s, Nhlapo feels the Chiefs’ side of the 1970s was even better.
That brilliant side made the speedy winger switch his allegiance from being an Orlando Pirates to a Kaizer Chiefs supporter.
“As a youngster, I used to be a Buccaneers supporter,” laughs Nhlapo.
“However, that all changed when I saw Chiefs beat Pirates in 1974 at Orlando Stadium. The way they played; I was immediately hooked – this feeling of excitement went right through my blood. I was sold on Chiefs from that day.”
The dribbling wizard left Amakhosi in 1990. He is presently running his own youth academy, named Sputla Stars, which is based in Nigel.
Looking back on those great Chiefs sides in the seventies and eighties, ‘Sputla’ says: “Kaizer Chiefs used to play in the seventies and eighties like Barcelona – we never lost the ball. We always told each other in the field of play, ‘Ungal'lahli’; isiZulu for ‘Don’t lose it’.”
And as he proudly puts on Kaizer Chiefs’ new commemorative 50th anniversary jersey, the club’s exciting former winger can’t stop gushing as the memories come flooding back.
“This jersey reminds me of the team with the likes of Pelé Blaschke, Ace Ntsoelengoe and Computer Lamola,” he enthuses, while proudly wearing the historic jersey at a special club photoshoot.
“I can feel it, it brings back fantastic memories. I love this jersey!” Nhlapo blurts out.
Nhlapo was a technically gifted and speedy winger, much loved by the Amakhosi faithful in the same vein they loved the likes of skilful tricksters such as ‘Shakes’ Kungwane, Jabu Pule and ‘Scara’ Ngobese.
Some might remember better the winger, Nelson ‘Teenage, Dladla on the right flank, rather than Sputla because, as the club’s former striker Marks ‘Go-Man-Go’ Maponyane explains:
“Teenage was exceptional, but Sputla was also very, very good. One can compare it with Barcelona’s attack a few seasons ago – Neymar, Suárez and Messi. Neymar was really good, but everybody looked at Messi, because he’s a player from another planet.”
Then, Maponyane adds with a smile on his face, “I was like Suárez. I played with two brilliant wingers, Nhlapo on the left and Dladla on the right. I got provided with so many good balls from either flank, all I needed to do was tap the ball in goal.”
Nhlapo was born on 7 October 1960 in KwaThema, joining the Glamour Boys at the age of 19 in early 1980. Even though he was then still very young, ‘Sputla’ was part of that formidable side that won the quadruple in 1981.
Another fantastic year arrived in 1984, when he was in the Chiefs team that won all the trophies on offer. Despite being such an influential member of that brilliant side of the 1980s, Nhlapo feels the Chiefs’ side of the 1970s was even better.
That brilliant side made the speedy winger switch his allegiance from being an Orlando Pirates to a Kaizer Chiefs supporter.
“As a youngster, I used to be a Buccaneers supporter,” laughs Nhlapo.
“However, that all changed when I saw Chiefs beat Pirates in 1974 at Orlando Stadium. The way they played; I was immediately hooked – this feeling of excitement went right through my blood. I was sold on Chiefs from that day.”
The dribbling wizard left Amakhosi in 1990. He is presently running his own youth academy, named Sputla Stars, which is based in Nigel.
Looking back on those great Chiefs sides in the seventies and eighties, ‘Sputla’ says: “Kaizer Chiefs used to play in the seventies and eighties like Barcelona – we never lost the ball. We always told each other in the field of play, ‘Ungal'lahli’; isiZulu for ‘Don’t lose it’.”
