What a season for Amakhosi
HE DIED TOO YOUNG COACH
KAIZER Chiefs captain Tefu Mashamaite and coach Stuart Baxter dedicated their 20142015 Absa Premiership victory to club legend John “Shoes” Moshoeu, who died this week.
Moshoeu – the famous Chiefs and Bafana Bafana No 10 who won a league championship with Chiefs in 2003/2004 – died of cancer on Tuesday, the day before Amakhosi wrapped up their fourth Premier Soccer League title with Wednesday night ’ s 4-1 win against Polokwane City at FNB Stadium.
“First of all I just want to relay my condolences to the Moshoeu family and also to South Africa – we have lost a legend,” Mashamaite said after the Wednesday ’ s victory.
“He was a childhood hero. Many of us in the current generation watched Shoes when he displayed his talents in the 1996 Nations Cup and we were dazzled. He went to the 1998 World Cup in France and shone.
“He came back from Turkey and still contributed at an ‘ old age ’ in football. He achieved so many things many people won ’ t achieve.
“He was one of the members of the 2003/04-winning squad, and I think we can dedicate winning this title to him.” Baxter said 1996 Africa Cup of Nations-winner midfielder died too young. Moshoeu died at the age of 49.
“Even if John was taken far too early, I think he lived, so let ’ s celebrate that. And that victory tonight hopefully will celebrate that,” said the Chiefs coach.
Mashamaite said he believed the 2014/2015 season belonged to Chiefs.
“I just want to reflect a bit and say it was going to be our season, with the way we started collecting that number of points in the first round, going 19 games unbeaten, and winning the MTN8. It was a good season overall for us,” the centre-back said.
There were only muted celebrations from the Chiefs players after the final whistle.
Baxter said Amakhosi are withholding their festivities until their final match against Chippa United in Port Elizabeth on May 9.
“The season ’ s not finished for us. I just told them in the dressing room that we ’ ve got three big games to play. The champagne will be on ice,” he said.