Posted in News, Team News on Jun 04, 2017.
Kaizer Motaung opted to give the 2017 Chairman’s award to Louis ‘Sprinter’ Tshakoane. “This is a great surprise,” Kaizer Chiefs’ former Public Relations Officer (PRO) commented.
“You cannot talk about Kaizer Chiefs in the 80s and 90s without mentioning Louis,” the Amakhosi Chairman explained this year’s choice. “His character, flamboyance and passion really livened up the mood in the stadium across the country. It is important to honour him and truly thank him for his work.”
Tshakoane was originally a die-hard Orlando Pirates fan and a huge admirer of Kaizer ‘Chincha Guluva’ Motaung’s brilliant displays on the soccer pitch. “Especially in the seasons 1967 and 1968, Kaizer was incredible,” he remembers, “the defenders just couldn’t touch him, he was simply too good for them.”
However, when Motaung left Pirates, Tshakoane followed ‘Chincha Guluva’ to support Kaizer’s XI, which started playing friendly matches in 1969. “We had to follow our super star (Motaung),” he explained the change of his allegiance.
Accordingly, he already set up a supporters branch in Tembisa in 1969. This basically covered Gauteng (then called Transvaal). Tshakoane became the secretary-general of the branch.
He became Chiefs’ Public Relations Officer (PRO) in 1982, entertaining the crowd, especially before the games, dressed in a tracksuit. He would be seen sprinting along the sidelines, which soon got him nicknamed ‘Sprinter’. “I was faster than anyone, even the players,” Tshakoane says about those years with a smile on his face.
The PRO’s entertaining interviews and pre-match action were much loved by the Chiefs supporters. The stadium was usually packed 25 minutes before kick-off as everybody wanted to see ‘King Louis’, another nickname, in action.
He left Amakhosi as PRO in 1999. Tshakoane still follows the Glamour Boys closely and will always have Gold & Black flowing through his veins. ‘Sprinter’ is presently the president of SAFA Ekurhuleni.
Asked about the meaning of receiving the 2017 Chairman’s award, Tshakoane reacted: “Whatever comes from Kaizer is like gold to me.
“The Chairman is dynamic, inspiring and a fantastic motivator of people. Kaizer got the club where it is now because of his commitment, discipline and great marketing skills.”
Then Tshakoane reflects on the time when Kaizer Chiefs was founded in 1970: “Most opponents thought that Chiefs would last for a few years only, but here we are, the club is 47 years old and won numerous trophies over the years.”
“You cannot talk about Kaizer Chiefs in the 80s and 90s without mentioning Louis,” the Amakhosi Chairman explained this year’s choice. “His character, flamboyance and passion really livened up the mood in the stadium across the country. It is important to honour him and truly thank him for his work.”
Tshakoane was originally a die-hard Orlando Pirates fan and a huge admirer of Kaizer ‘Chincha Guluva’ Motaung’s brilliant displays on the soccer pitch. “Especially in the seasons 1967 and 1968, Kaizer was incredible,” he remembers, “the defenders just couldn’t touch him, he was simply too good for them.”
However, when Motaung left Pirates, Tshakoane followed ‘Chincha Guluva’ to support Kaizer’s XI, which started playing friendly matches in 1969. “We had to follow our super star (Motaung),” he explained the change of his allegiance.
Accordingly, he already set up a supporters branch in Tembisa in 1969. This basically covered Gauteng (then called Transvaal). Tshakoane became the secretary-general of the branch.
He became Chiefs’ Public Relations Officer (PRO) in 1982, entertaining the crowd, especially before the games, dressed in a tracksuit. He would be seen sprinting along the sidelines, which soon got him nicknamed ‘Sprinter’. “I was faster than anyone, even the players,” Tshakoane says about those years with a smile on his face.
The PRO’s entertaining interviews and pre-match action were much loved by the Chiefs supporters. The stadium was usually packed 25 minutes before kick-off as everybody wanted to see ‘King Louis’, another nickname, in action.
He left Amakhosi as PRO in 1999. Tshakoane still follows the Glamour Boys closely and will always have Gold & Black flowing through his veins. ‘Sprinter’ is presently the president of SAFA Ekurhuleni.
Asked about the meaning of receiving the 2017 Chairman’s award, Tshakoane reacted: “Whatever comes from Kaizer is like gold to me.
“The Chairman is dynamic, inspiring and a fantastic motivator of people. Kaizer got the club where it is now because of his commitment, discipline and great marketing skills.”
Then Tshakoane reflects on the time when Kaizer Chiefs was founded in 1970: “Most opponents thought that Chiefs would last for a few years only, but here we are, the club is 47 years old and won numerous trophies over the years.”
