Lucas Radebe: Football Was Just A Hobby

Bafana Bafana and Leeds United legend Lucas Radebe recently got candid about his childhood and how football was a calling.

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What's the story?

Lucas Radebe, who is celebrating his 55th birthday today, sat down with Clement Manyathela this week on Radio 702 to speak about his upbringing and making it as a professional footballer.

The former Bafana Bafana and Leeds United skipper opened up about his childhood in Soweto and touched on his parents' expectations of him.

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Let's take a closer look...

Lucas Radebe opens up

Lucas Radebe is undoubtedly one of South African football's finest exports and despite all of his success in the beautiful game both locally and overseas, "Rhoo" remains as humble as ever.

Speaking to radio host Clement Manyathela, "The Chief," as he was affectionately known by Leeds United supporters, Radebe got candid about his childhood in Diepkloof and how football happened.

"I come from a family with a sporting background. My dad used to tell me that he was a boxer, I never saw not one picture of him but with his stature, he looked like a boxer with his hands, but my brothers and uncles have pictures to prove.

"To be honest, we grew up and our parents were guiding us, you know during Apartheid, those days where we'd get up to no good. Football was just a hobby, something that we would do after school, or when we bunked school," revealed Radebe on how he was introduced to football.

Radebe grew up with ten siblings (five brothers and five sisters), in Diepkloof, Soweto, mentioned that he appreciates his big family prepared him for life in a team environment as an athlete.

"It was a bit of a struggle, but I believe that set me up for the future that I was about to have. In terms of competition, being involved in a team, in a team structure and facing the challenges that I faced in my career," revealed Radebe.

"I believe that football was a calling. It was just to play a sport, it was a calling, that I have to be in the game. Just to have an impact, a different way to inspire," added Radebe, who mentioned that his parents wanted him to be a doctor.

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Listen below:

Here are some of the birthday wishes that Lucas Radebe has received:

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