“Shoes was my role model,” says Kaizer Chiefs team manager Gerald Sibeko about John Moshoeu’s passing at the age of 49 on Tuesday, 21 April. Sibeko and Moshoeu were teammates at the Amakhosi from 2003 until 2006, winning two league titles together and three cup trophies.

Moshoeu first played for Chiefs during the 1993 season, before joining Turkish side Genclerbirligi. The talented midfielder rejoined Amakhosi in 2003. At the age of 37, the South African soccer legend was by then an experienced player, who had starred in Europa and who was one of the heroes of Bafana Bafana’s 1996 Africa Cup of Nations win.

Sibeko made his debut for Chiefs in 2000 and was 24-year-old by the time Moshoeu arrived in 2003.

“Shoes was so inspiring,” Sibeko reflects, “both as a player and as a person. He was such a humble and friendly soul.”

“He would also encourage us and when he would pick his side at training for a little practice game, Shoes would always select me first. I felt so honoured by that.”

Moshoeu even became Sibeko’s roommate before matches. Together, they won back-to-back league titles in 2004 and 2005. They also captured the Coca Cola Cup twice (2003 and 2004) and the Absa Cup (2006), which was Moshoeu’s last trophy wearing the Gold and Black jersey.

“Shoes’ contribution to the team in those seasons was immense,” continues the former Amakhosi midfielder, who played 12 years for the club (2000-2012). “He would forever give us advice on what to do in certain situations in the game. We learnt a lot just by listening to him.”

On Moshoeu’s passing, Sibeko adds: "Personally, I kept contact with him during his illness. I feel very sad at the moment. Above all because I gained such tremendous inspiration from him. May his soul rest in peace.”