Soccer Laduma and Ballantine's would like to pay tribute to those who stay true to themselves – like Kaizer Chiefs legend, Doctor Khumalo.
He started with legends ended as one
Doctor Khumalo's name is written in Kaizer Chiefs folklore as one of the club's most treasured sons. In the terraces they called him '16V' for his amazing ability to play a through ball and open up defences.
For a time they also called him 'Bathathebonke' – a Xhosa term meaning 'to take them all on'. It was in 1987 when he was first handed the number 15 jersey by the late Chiefs sweeper, Tikkie Khoza. This is where Doctor Khumalo's love affair with Chiefs all started as a young man barely out of his teens.
His first experience of the Amakhosi dressing room was a daunting one – legends such as Ace Ntsoelengoe, Teenage Dladla, Bra City Kole, Scara Thindwa, Trevor Mthimkhulu and Chippa Molatedi were all still around, and Khumalo started in the same dressing room as all of these greats.
Yet he went on to show that he truly belonged amongst such elite company with close to 17 years of success following in the gold and black. In fact he went on to become arguably the greatest player ever produced by Chiefs.
The day Bucs tried to poach Khumalo
Even as a child growing up, Chiefs was in his blood. The story goes that he used to follow his father, 'Pro' Khumalo, everywhere he went. 'Pro' was a terrific midfielder for Chiefs, and 16V's football education started amongst the very best.
The playmaker sharpened his skills with Chiefs' development side in Alcker Stadium in Soweto as well. Yet, it was the keen eye of Bobby Motaung that stopped Khumalo from nearly signing for Pirates at the start of his professional career.
A Bucs scout had spotted Khumalo's obvious talent during a trial game in Brits, and it took a call from Bobby to Kaizer Motaung to ensure that 16V never signed for Pirates. The very next day he signed his first contract at Chiefs' offices, then in Jeppes Street in Johannesburg.
Legend has it that a Pirates' official arrived at 09h00 on the same day with three bags full of money, yet Doctor's dad just showed them the signed contract and the rest is history.
Over the course of the next 17 seasons, he would go on to produce some of the best performances ever seen for both Chiefs and Bafana Bafana, where he proved himself to be a loyal servant for both club and country.
Undoubtedly, the 47-year-old's next challenge as assistant manager is to help Stuart Baxter guide Chiefs towards another era of glory. Khumalo's legendary status once again demonstrates that staying true to both your ideals and dreams, as well as remaining loyal to those who have supported you, are some of the most important keys to success.
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