Greek Goddess
MAINROLE PLAYERS
Kaizer Motaung
Earned the name Chincha-Guluva – make a fool out of a defender – for his dribbling wizardry. Affectionately known as Boy-Boy, from childhood. Recruited into professional soccer – Orlando Pirates – by the late Eric “Scara” Sono, father to Jomo Sono. Left for the United States in 1969 to play for Atlanta Chiefs in the North American Soccer League. On his return, was suspended by Pirates for inquiring about the suspension of one official, the late Ewert Nene, and three players – Ratha Mokgoatlheng, Thomas “Zero” Johnson and Msomi Khoza. Motaung then led the group to form Kaizer Chiefs, named after his American mentor team. A trend-setter in his own right, on and off the soccer field. He introduced Afro hairstyle and bell-bottomed trousers in black fashion circles after his American stint. Introduced glamour to black soccer by securing sponsorships for his team, and membership clubs for team’s supporters. Hence the tag, the Glamour Boys, for the team reputed to conduct its “business” in style.
Irvin Khoza
Irvin Khoza is the owner and chair of Orlando Pirates. Besides chairing Orlando Pirates, he is Safa’s vice-president and a member of the PSL’s board of governors, where he wields a powerful influence. Khoza has earned himself the nickname of the Iron Duke of South African soccer – and he loves it.
Khoza sits on the panel of soccer experts (technical team) assigned to choose the country’s national soccer coaches and leads the country’s 2006 World Cup bid. Khoza has friends and foes alike. Cabinet ministers, officials of the National Intelligence Agency, leaders of the country’s parastals, members of the VIP protection unit and the so-called country’s socialites are in the list of those counted in Khoza’s inner circles.
Leepile Taunyane
The godfather of South African soccer. An ex-teacher from Alexandra township and longtime chair of the traditionalist and conservative Transvaal United African Teachers Association. He led the split from the National Professional Soccer League in the mid-1980s to form the national Soccer League.
Currently chair of the PSL as well as acting chief executive after the suspension of Joe Ndhlela. It is on his advice that Motaung and Khoza find the clout to run South African soccer at both association and league levels.
Jomo Sono
The “Black Prince” of South African soccer is owner of Jomo Cosmos. Lives up to his soccer nickname, Trouble-maker, for standing up to the A-Team to challenge their dominance of local soccer.
Natasha Tsichlas
The Greek goddess of soccer, and co-owner of Mamelodi Sundowns, with the skin- lightening twins – Abe and Solly Krok. Resents the dominance of the A-Team on the affairs of local professional soccer, particularly attempts to maintain Soweto’s dominance over other teams such as Sundowns. Paranoid that the A-Team is bent on destroying her team – selecting five of her players but fielding only one in the national team’s line-up during the 2000 African Cup of Nations tournament.
David Thidiela
The PSL security chief, and an ex-murder and robbery detective. Under his guard the FNB stadium’s turnstiles “malfunctioned”, making it difficult to verify match attendance figures and gate-takings. Recently found solace as a self-proclaimed pastor of a newly established fundamental Christian Church. Fell out with the A-Team, and was made scapegoat and sacrificial lamb during the Motimele commission.
Danny Jordaan
A politician turned soccer chief. Jordaan left Parliament to join Safa as its new chief executive officer in 1997. Reported to be a skilled negotiator, an attribute that earned him the job of chief executive officer of South Africa’s 2006 World Cup bid. He is also said to have a good working relationship with bid chair Khoza. Recently appointed to Fifa’s marketing panel.
Zola Mahobe
Former man-about-town,who took Mamelodi Sundowns from novice status in the NSL to a powerhouse of local professional soccer. He took the entire team, including their partners, on a trip to Brazil for a taste of samba football and the lambada on Rio de Janeiro’s fun-filled beachfronts. It was not long before the Rockville, Soweto, lad and his fiance, Snowy Moshoeshoe, an ex- Standadard Bank computer expert, were put behind bars for defrauding the bank of over R10-million.
Standard Bank attached the team, and Sundows was auctioned to the cabal of Tsichlas and the Krok brothers. Mahobe is currently employed to manage and develop the team’s supporters club.
Abdul Bhamjee
The disgraced former NSL public relations office, is reported to be running a sport shop in Fordsburg, Johannesburg. He was released in 1996, after serving four of his 14-year sentence for defrauding the league of over R7-million.
Scoffed off advances by the SA Prisoners Organisation for Human Human Rights to take up a position in the organisation’s national executive during and after his release from jail.
Short-lived fame, after he launched the soccer career of Bafana midfielder, John “Shoes” Moshoe, with the defunct Giant Blackpool F.C. Otherwise, he ran a chop-shop scrapyard that “recycled” vehicles back on the road.