Arthur Zwane will play his 99th match for Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, but before that he has some important business to take care of.
On Friday evening, the team he owns — Galatasaray Football Club — meet Inter Milan in a Meadowlands derby at the Discovery Walter Sisulu Challenge.
Zwane’s team have played three matches thus far at the Pimville Stadium, drawing 2-2 with Trabzon followed by a 1-0 win over Orlando Kwaitos, and so Friday’s 6pm fixture looms as a vital one for the Chiefs player and his team.
”We have just four points thus far, so a win is vital for us,” says Zwane. The man affectionately known as ”10111” co-owns the Galatasaray club with former footballer Seth Molele, who played for Chiefs and Jomo Cosmos in the early 1990s.
The pair have had great success with the side named after the multiple Turkish champions. They won the 2005 edition of the Discovery Walter Sisulu Challenge and were runners-up to Senaoane Gunners last year.
”Winning the Discovery Walter Sisulu Challenge trophy was a wonderful achievement. It was our debut in the competition and taking the trophy to Meadowlands was very special,” Zwane (34) explains.
He expects his team to go from strength to strength. ”We have a vision to take this team to the Mvela Golden League next year.”
Zwane feels that the Discovery Walter Sisulu Challenge is the perfect breeding ground to identify talent. ”Two of my players have already gone on to play in the Mvela Golden League, thanks to the opportunities that they got to shine in this tournament.”
The two players who joined Dynamos last season, Ayanda Lumkwana and Thulani Ntshingila, have had great seasons thus far. ”I am very happy to see them making such a good impression out there. They need to stay disciplined and keep on performing well,” says Zwane.
Meanwhile, Zwane is recovering well from injury and raring to go in Chiefs’ final Premier Soccer League match of the year against Black Leopards.
”I trained on Tuesday without any problems, I am not feeling any pain and the doctor has given the all-clear for my stitches to be removed, which basically means that I can play on Saturday.
”It’s always great to play, and this being the final game of the year, we would love to give our fans a good send-off.” — Sapa