CHAIRMAN’S PRAISE

A week after Siphiwe Tshabalala left Kaizer Chiefs for Erzurumspor, club chairman Kaizer Motaung heaped praised on his former player, describing him as a club legend. “It is very impressive these days that a player plays so many games for one club,” he said. “Shabba has played 372 games for Amakhosi and scored 58 goals. That is quite remarkable. He belongs to that true group of former Chiefs players such as Ace Ntsoelengoe, Teenage Dladla, Doctor Khumalo, Neil Tovey and Thabo Mooki – all of whom made a significant contribution to the club.” Shabba himself says he was honoured by his former chairman’s comments, and proud of the contribution he was able to make with the Glamour Boys. “I read that, and I became so emotional,” Tshabalala says of Motaung’s words. “The chairman is one of the greatest people in the country, and he has done a lot for us. He brought joy to so many people through football during the apartheid era when there was no joy. Even though there was war during that era, people still found joy through football and he played a significant role in that. Having created a big institution like Kaizer Chiefs, a club with such a rich history, for him to say those kind words makes me humbled. I’m proud of the contribution I’ve made at the club. I’m also proud of the recognition because these things are said when you are no more. But I’m grateful that these good things were said. It’s special and I appreciate that.”