After winning the Mainstay Cup, two Kaizer Chiefs hardmen, Jan ‘Malombo’ Lechaba and Jackie Masike, got stuck into one another during their celebrations.
Chiefs legends, Ace Ntsoelengoe and Banks Setlhodi, told the story to Soccer Laduma along with Malombo, recapping an eventful night at Msidi's Place in Soweto.
"It was after a Mainstay Final that we’d won and we were all celebrating at a shebeen called Msidi’s Place, it was in Meadowlands in Soweto," said Ace.
"In those days before I arrived at the club, Jackie Masike was the 'top dog' at Chiefs. He was a tough guy who was the main man when it came to being able to handle himself when it came to fighting. Jackie was a big guy and he knew his stuff."
Malombo added, "So one day Ace says to me, 'Malombo, Jackie is always bullying everyone. On and off the field, he is dictating everything.' So, I began to think that maybe I should 'fix' him."
Following the game, Banks revealed that they knew trouble was brewing, saying, "I was pushing Jackie and Ace was pushing Malombo. It started when I said to Jackie, 'Hey, Jackie, Jan is trying to take over as the boss. He has the backing of Ace.'
"I said, 'Jackie, now it's your time, go and do your thing.' The next thing Jackie went up to Malombo and hit him one big punch between the chin and the ears.
"I could see Malombo and, as you know, Malombo is pitch black, and he just started turning grey. But Malombo never even fell, he just stood there. He just said, 'Jackie, what are you doing?'
"Then Jackie landed another big punch and Malombo just said again, 'Jackie, why do you want to fight me?'
"The next thing, Malombo just let fly with one punch and Jackie was flat out on the floor. Jackie tried to get up quickly as if nothing had happened, but he couldn’t. Just imagine the scene - Big Jackie on the floor. I mean, Jackie was the big guy of the team, the whole of Soweto knew him as a tough guy and Malombo was new."
