Kaizer Chiefs Football Manager Bobby Motaung has revealed that he had some sort of influence in the club promoting and giving Doctor Khumalo a first team contract in the late 80s.
Khumalo, 58, is one of the most revered former players to have worn the gold and black with 397 recorded appearances and 75 goals between 1987 and 2004.
Motaung spoke to iDiski Times senior journalist Matshelane Mamabolo edition 238 of the newspaper at Chiefs’ recent 56th birthday celebration.
He shared how he and ’16V’ as the former Bafana Bafana midfielder is affectionately known, grew up closely together and played development football together as well.
The 56-year-old administrator explained how he became frantic upon discovering that Chiefs’ rivals Orlando Pirates wanted Khumalo just before he signed for Amakhosi.
“Of course,” Motaung told iDiski Times when asked if he influenced the signing.
“He was playing for the development side. But there were challenges because Pirates wanted to sign Doctor. I’ve got an aunt at Pirates, Ausi Moipone. We used to host tournaments in Brits, and she used to be there. So, she called the Pirates officials to say, ‘Hey, this tournament has got great players, come and sign’. She was the Iron Lady at Pirates, so she was very influential.
“So at some point, I left Doctor sleeping in one of our rooms in Brits, and I took a taxi and came back to Joburg to tell the old man [Kaizer Motaung], you better sign this guy, you better sign Doctor, because Pirates are on his heels and they are going to steal him.
“But fortunately, Bra Pro was with Chiefs, our coach in the development, and he probably would not have allowed it, but we had to act. Doctor was then immediately promoted to the senior team, and he became a hero. He became a star, a shining star.”
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