history

Since their formation as a breakaway from Orlando Pirates at the end of the 1960s, Kaizer Chiefs have always stood for glamour and success, making them not only South Africa’s most popular team, but also faraway the leaders in terms of trophies won.

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The story of Chiefs’ formation has been told many times; how Kaizer Motaung, on his return from a stint playing for Atlanta Chiefs in the United States, was alarmed to find that a number of his Pirates teammates had been suspended by high-handed Buccaneers management; how sitting in a newspaper sports office, the idea of a touring XI took shape; how journalist Cyril McAravey drove Motaung and Pirates rebels, including Zero Johnson and Ratha Mokgoatlheng and sidekick Ewert Nene, around in his car, recruiting players; how the Kaizer XI toured the land, winning here, there, everywhere, and capturing the attention of soccer fans across the nation.

Less well-known is the cunning plan dreamt up by Nene and Clarence Mlokoti, a close ally of Motaung, to have the club register with the Nigel Football Association, as the Football Association in Soweto leaned heavily in favour of Pirates and would not take kindly to this upstart breakaway team.

This all took place late in 1969, early 1970, at a time when soccer officials were trying to ‘reboot’ a ... READ MORE ->

squad

goalkeepers

Itumeleng Khune

Age: 32

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 32

Bruce Bvuma

Age: 24

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 44

Daniel Akpeyi

Age: 32

Nationality: Nigeria

Jersey number: 40

defenders

Ramahlwe Mphahlele

Age: 29

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 2

Mulomowandau Mathoho

Age: 29

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 3

Daniel Cardoso

Age: 30

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 4

Njabulo Blom

Age: 19

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 45

Kgotso Moleko

Age: 29

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 18

Happy Mashiane

Age: 21

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 19

Yagan Sasman

Age: 23

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 20

Lorenzo Gordinho

Age: 25

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 26

Philani Zulu

Age: 26

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 22

Reeve Frosler

Age: 21

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 39

Siphosake Ntiya-Ntiya

Age: 22

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 36

midfielders

Kearyn Baccus

Age: 27

Nationality: Australia

Jersey number: 6

Siphelele Ntshangase

Age: 26

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 10

George Maluleka

Age: 30

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 12

Kabelo Mahlasela

Age: 28

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 17

Lebogang Manyama

Age: 28

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 21

James Kotei

Age: 25

Nationality: Ghana

Jersey number: 5

Joseph Malongoane

Age: 31

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 23

Willard Katsande

Age: 33

Nationality: Zimbabwe

Jersey number: 31

Nkosingiphile Ngcobo

Age: 19

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 37

forwards

Lazarous Kambole

Age: 25

Nationality: Zambia

Jersey number: 7

Leonardo Castro

Age: 30

Nationality: Colombia

Jersey number: 8

Samir Nurkovic

Age: 27

Nationality: Serbia

Jersey number: 9

Khama Billiat

Age: 28

Nationality: Zimbabawe

Jersey number: 11

Bernard Parker

Age: 33

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 25

Dumisani Zuma

Age: 24

Nationality: South Africa

Jersey number: 28