Doc’s memory bank: He gave me such a warm hug

What also surprised me about Dr. Khoza is when we played the 1998 France FIFA World Cup qualifiers, as Bafana Bafana. We were playing DR Congo in Togo. As we were coming out of the dressing rooms to line up with the match officials and our opponents before we went to the field, Dr. Khoza grabbed my hand and said, “Please come here, let the other guys go.” I was left behind and he told me, “Doc, I’m going to ask you for one thing, my boy. I know you are about to walk onto the field, please get South Africa to France! I know you can do it and just do it for me, please take us to France.” I had goosebumps, thinking to myself, “How am I going to do this? We are playing away, it is so hot and the environment is not conducive.” I walked onto the field just as we were about to line up for the national anthem and the Chairman’s words were buzzing in my ears. I kept hearing him saying, “Please take us to France” and that gave me so much confidence because why else would the Chairman ask me to do something that he didn’t believe I could do? I went out there and gave 100% effort, creating and scoring to beat them 2-1. We came here, I created the solitary goal scored by my late friend, Philemon Masinga, and the rest is history. After we sealed our qualification, Dr. Khoza came up to me, opened his arms and gave me such a warm hug and said, “You did it, boy! Well done and thank you! You really made me proud. I will never forget this.” These are things that people don’t know about and it is only fair to share them so that they realise how powerful this Beautiful Game is.