The legendary American civil rights leader and politician Andrew Young visited Chiefs Village on Friday, 1 April 2016. He was accompanied by his beautiful wife Carolyn and ten other American guests, who were part of the delegation that travelled to South Africa with the Andrew Young Foundation.

Kaizer Chiefs Chairman Kaizer Motaung and ambassador Young have been friends since they met in the American city of Atlanta when ‘Chincha Guluva’ played soccer there in the late sixties. The talented forward starred for Atlanta Chiefs in the 1968, 1969 and 1971 seasons, while Young was at the time one of the key African-American civil rights leader and close friend of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The two met one another in 1968 after a soccer game. Motaung would regularly visit the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the spiritual home of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., where he also encountered Young.

“Kaizer was the star player,” Young enthuses. “I knew about South Africa and I had studied the works of Albert Luthuli and the ANC, but I had not visited the country as yet. However, we were all concerned about the political situation in South Africa and suddenly here was this young black South African footballer excelling in our midst.”

“It was also for the first time in 1968 that a team from Atlanta excelled in any kind of sport,” Young adds. “That’s when Atlanta Chiefs captured the 1968 NASL Championship.” Then, he points to Motaung, before continuing: “This man won it for us!”

The South African forward was selected as the 1968 NASL Rookie of the Year for his fabulous performances, while netting 13 goals in 28 matches (there were three assists).

A season later, Motaung did even better, scoring 16 goals (four assists) in as many games. In late 1969, however, he returned home, first setting-up the Kaizer’s XI, before founding Kaizer Chiefs on 7 January 1970. As a result of all of this, Motaung didn’t return to Atlanta Chiefs for the 1970 season.

“I was sure Kaizer would stay in Atlanta for another season,” Young reveals, “since he was offered a guaranteed contract valued at one million dollars ($1 000 000) a year by the Club. When he returned to South Africa, I asked myself, ‘What is the matter with him? Is this boy crazy?’ It took a lot of genius and courage to return home despite this immense offer.”

Then, Young adds: “Kaizer’s decision was clearly informed by his love and vision for a future in South Africa. He saw hope for South Africa which we Americans didn’t see at the time.”

The Kaizer Chiefs Chairman smiles when the former United States ambassador to the United Nations, mayor of Atlanta and American Congressman talks about 1969, when Motaung walked away from a one million dollar a year income.

“I sometimes wonder why I did that,” Motaung chuckles. “However, I had that desire to contribute and do something back home. I saw an opportunity and I went for it.”

About Young, the Amakhosi Chairman says: “Andrew was already a well-known leader of the American Civil Rights Movement. He was always at our games and that was inspiring. He used to tell me: “Believe in yourself and focus on the job on hand.”

The American laughs at Motaung’s compliments, stressing modestly: “Kaizer, at the time you were the star and I was just a rookie.”

While walking around Kaizer Chiefs Village to view the various facilities at Amakhosi’s headquarters in Naturena, Young reacts enthusiastically: “I now understand why Kaizer went home in 1969. He had a vision! It’s unbelievable to see what Kaizer has achieved through hard work, discipline and team work. When I look at these magnificent football pitches and I hear about the youth development structures, I see hundreds of young kids learning to play football using both their minds and bodies.”

Young and his American delegation toured the ‘Rainbow Nation’ on a South Africa Heritage Tour during the last few weeks.

He was an active and vocal campaigner for the boycott against apartheid South Africa, becoming a fierce admirer, and in later years, friend of South Africa’s former president Nelson Mandela.

He likens Mandela to the biblical figure “Joseph, who had been jailed by his brothers and who ended up leading Egypt out of famine.”

At the age of 84, it doesn’t seem that the American is taking it easy, as he still keeps himself occupied with the Andrew Young Foundation, which was founded in 2003. The organisation supports and promotes education, health, leadership and human rights in the United States, Africa and the Caribbean.

Walking back to the car when he left the Village, Young tells Motaung: “Let’s try to meet again soon, either in Atlanta or in South Africa. There is still so much to talk about.”

The visit was a special one and one that sees a long friendship continue.