Kaizer Motaung Senior turned down a $1m-a-year contract in the United States to return to South Africa in 1969 to form Kaizer Chiefs in Soweto.
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Motaung, considered to be one of the best players the country has produced, had a spell in the NASL during the 60s with Atlanta Chiefs –whom he part named the Amakhosi after – however came back to Mzansi despite a new contract offer.
The story was revealed by American civil rights leader and former politician, Andrew Young, who visited Naturena last week to see his old friend from Atlanta.
Speaking to the club's official website, the former congressman said, "Kaizer was the star player. I knew about South Africa and I had studied the works of Albert Luthuli and the ANC, but I had not visited the country as yet. However, we were all concerned about the political situation in South Africa and suddenly here was this young black South African footballer excelling in our midst.
"It was also for the first time in 1968 that a team from Atlanta excelled in any kind of sport. That's when Atlanta Chiefs captured the 1968 NASL Championship. This man won it for us!"
Motaung was selected as the 1968 NASL Rookie of the Year for his performances, scoring 13 goals in 28 matches and grabbing three assists, before directly contributing to 20 goals the following season.
Young went on to say, "I was sure Kaizer would stay in Atlanta for another season since he was offered a guaranteed contract valued at $1m a year by the club. When he returned to South Africa, I asked myself, 'What is the matter with him? Is this boy crazy?' It took a lot of genius and courage to return home despite this immense offer.
"Kaizer's decision was clearly informed by his love and vision for a future in South Africa. He saw hope for South Africa which we Americans didn't see at the time."
Speaking about his decision to walk away from that big money contract, Motaung said, "I sometimes wonder why I did that, however, I had that desire to contribute and do something back home. I saw an opportunity and I went for it."
Upon seeing Naturena first hand, however, Young says that he gets it now. He finished by saying, "I now understand why Kaizer went home in 1969. He had a vision! It's unbelievable to see what Kaizer has achieved through hard work, discipline and team work. When I look at these magnificent football pitches and I hear about the youth development structures, I see hundreds of young kids learning to play football using both their minds and bodies."
