TOO MUCH, TOO SOON
Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder used to dazzle crowds. But at the age of 30 his career is all but over … what went wrong? Ernest Fakude has a frank discussion with one of the country’s greatest wasted talents.
KICK OFF: Share with us your football background, where it all started for you … JUNIOR KHANYE:
I have always loved football. I was not bad in class, but books were not my favourite thing even though my father was strict and always emphasised the importance of education. I always played football, but it was when I went to Vezukhono High School that my career started to blossom. Every Wednesday was sports day, and I would play football during the school break and that’s where people started to see my potential, especially one of the teachers, Mr Sello.
How did things progress?
After school I started to take my football seriously and play in local tournaments. We had lots of players from Daveyton playing for Kaizer Chiefs development – that was great inspiration – and I loved Chiefs from the day I was born. I would save money to watch them play – sometimes I would sleep at Park Station. We had players like Pollen Ndlanya, Clement Mazibuko and Jabu Mahlangu that inspired me to dream of playing for Chiefs one day.
Tell us about meeting Mahlubi Mehlomakhulu, who took you to Kaizer Chiefs?
He came to watch one of the local tournaments. He told me that he had heard a lot about me, and I remember it was very cold and he was wearing a Chiefs jacket which he then gave me. I didn’t hear from him until a tournament that he had organized – they were one man short in his team, and Sbusiso Mahlangu [formerly with SuperSport United] recommended that I should come and play. After 20 minutes I scored a volley from outside the 18-area. I went straight to the corner flag to do a summersault to celebrate – that’s where I got the nickname ‘Aghahowa’ after the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2000. [Ed’s note: this refers to Khanye’s famous somersault celebration]. After the game he said he wanted to take me to Orlando Pirates or Ajax Cape Town, but I begged him to take me to Chiefs.
So that was the beginning of the Chiefs journey?
Yes. He spoke to Ryder [Mofokeng] and told him that he had found another player