The retiring of jersey numbers due to sporting excellence at big clubs like Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs have opened a huge debate, as Jabu Mahlangu has now weighed in on the matter at Amakhosi.
The debate was brought to life after Pirates supporters suggested that the jersey number ten, which has been retired in honour of the contribution made by Jomo Sono, should be taken out of retirement and given to Patrick Maswanganyi, who shone with the jersey in the CAF Champions League.
Sono, addressing the media on the issue, opened the debate even further, after suggesting that he was an elephant during his playing days and that he cannot be compared to an ant.
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There has been widespread comment from former players on the issue and Mahlangu, who wore the famous number 11 at the Glamour Boys, revered after being worn by the likes of Teenage Dladla and 'Shuffle' himself, says he does not see the significance of jerseys being retired for sporting reasons.
"With all due respect to all the jerseys that are retired, for me it's just a jersey. Doctor Khumalo will always be Doctor Khumalo, Jomo Sono is Jomo Sono and they have done exceptionally well to pave the way for the likes of Jabu Pule, Itu Khune," Mahlangu said on 947's MSW.
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"So this thing of jersey retiring, for me, for what? Can you imagine if we say Ace Ntsoelengoe number 12 must retire, jersey number 11 that one Teenage Dladla was wearing must retire, jersey number ten must retire, so this generation will use alphabets, A, B and C. There won't be numbers anymore.
"You can always inspire. I mean
intanga zabo [their peers] who played in Europe, people are renaming stadiums, are making statues [after them] our former players here are fighting over a jersey number? There's a statue for Maradona, Pele, Messi, Sibusiso Zuma, Lucas Radebe. It's petty things amagrootman [the older guys] are fighting for," Mahlangu argued.
