Making your league debut for Kaizer Chiefs is a seismic day in the life of any footballer – never mind when you’re just 16 and doing so in the massive game that is the Soweto Derby.

That was exactly what happened to Buti Sithole on a warm summer’s day in December 2002, when he was shocked to discover he was named in Amakhosi’s starting lineup for a league game against the Buccaneers.

Just one week away from turning 17, Sithole suddenly found himself thrust by co-coaches Doctor Khumalo and Ace Khuse into the glare of the spotlight of playing in one of the biggest Club games on the African continent in front of a packed FNB Stadium.

Sithole was just 16 years, 11 months and 22 days when he lined up against Pirates, in his first official game for Chiefs.

“My aim was always to play for a big team like Chiefs, but in my mind I never thought that I would make my official debut against Pirates. It was a dream come true. I started training with the first team on Monday and on Saturday I was playing against Pirates. I knew during the week that I was going to start. I was shaking, excited and anxious, but happy to know I was playing,” Sithole recalls of the special moment in his career.

The now 35-year-old defender said it was a big shock to him to find out that he was to feature for the Chiefs first team against Pirates.

“I was with the junior national team in Bloemfontein. When I returned on Sunday, I was told that on Monday I must start training with the Chiefs first team,” says Sithole.

A whirlwind few days rushed by and before he knew it, it was a case of getting over the nerves and getting ready for the big game.

On game day Sithole says it was some of the old heads in the team who helped him keep calm and put in a composed performance.

“I had guys like Cyril Nzama and Fabian McCarthy. They were always talking to me and helping me,” recalls Sithole.

But no amount of support from his teammates could prepare him for the deafening noise of the derby crowd and the atmosphere of the old imposing FNB Stadium.

“it was scary walking through the tunnel and hearing the noise. At the same time, I was excited. Cyril told me to make sure that my first touch is okay and that then the game will be fine,” Sithole says of his first derby moments.

The game ended 1-1 and Sithole was tasked with marking the creative and troublesome former Orlando Pirates midfielder Steve Lekoelea. After the game, he was pleased with his performance.

“I think I did very well because I was up against Steve Lekoelea. I made sure my first touch was good and after that I was confident. Steve was on form and was firing that season, so I did very well. After the game when I got home, I could not sleep, I got a lot of calls that night,” beams Sithole.

He is grateful to Khumalo and Khuse for giving him his big break.

“Playing in a Derby against Pirates is a major honour and I will always be grateful to Doctor and Ace for the opportunity they handed me. They believed in me and motivated me and advised me,” says Sithole.

There was one big fact that was missing for Sithole on the day he made his debut – the knowledge that he had become the youngest Chiefs player ever at that stage to make his debut for the Club.

“I did not know that until the Club told me. I never thought of it. I am excited to know that now and feel honoured to have made history for a big team like Chiefs,” says Sithole.

After making his debut against Pirates in December 2002, Sithole played in Chiefs’ next eight league games and featured in a total of 10 league games in his debut season for the Club, which saw Chiefs recover from a poor start to the campaign to finish sixth.