Kaizer Motaung
Encyclopedia
Kaizer Motaung is a former South Africa
n soccer player and founder of the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club
, of which he is still chairman and managing director. He is nicknamed "Chincha Guluva".
, Motaung first played professional soccer at the age of 16, for Orlando Pirates.
His entry into international soccer occurred in 1968, when Atlanta Chiefs Founder and Owner, Dick Cecil, and former West Ham United
player Phil Woosnam
(who was manager of the Atlanta Chiefs
franchise in the then-recently formed North American Soccer League
(NASL) recruited Motaung after team trials in Zambia
.
, scoring two goals in the process. He continued to play brilliantly for the rest of the season, scoring sixteen goals in fifteen matches, making him the top scorer in the league that season. As a result of this achievement, he was voted "Rookie of the Year" and gained a place on the NASL’s All Star Team. In 1975, he returned to the NASL to play two seasons with the Denver Dynamos
.
, also a former player for Orlando Pirates, joined an NASL side New York Cosmos
in the late 70s (1977). He also returned to form his own professional soccer team which he named Jomo Cosmos
after himself and his former NASL team, New York Cosmos
. Currently both clubs still play in the South African Premier Soccer League
.
Despite early setbacks and opposition, Motaung succeeded in assembling a good mix of veterans and talented rookies and the club soon became a force to be reckoned with. Due to Motaung’s charisma Kaizer Chiefs soon had a large following, even drawing supporters away from the (until then) pre-eminent Orlando Pirates as well as those who had previously not supported any local soccer club.
Within a short space of time, Kaizer Chiefs became the most successful team in South Africa, winning more than 78 trophies and gaining an estimated 14 million supporters throughout the country. Indeed, it is often jokingly stated that Kaizer Chiefs do not really play any away matches, as their supporters always outnumber those of the home team.
As of 2005, Motaung is still at the helm of the club he started. One of Kaizer Chiefs' most recent achievements is winning the Mandela Cup African Club Championships in 2001, despite it only being the club’s second season in the competition.
In addition, Motaung co-founded (with Orlando Pirates' Irvin Khoza
) the South African Premier League (PSL) in 1996, which helped bring more sponsors and money into South African professional soccer.
Motaung currently still serves as a member of the PSL’s Board of Governors, while also still running Kaizer Chiefs and being on SAFA’s executive committee. He has also indicated that he would accept a position with the Confederation of African Football
(CAF) or on world soccer’s governing body, FIFA
.
Motaung was voted 73rd in the Top 100 Great South Africans
in 2004. He also assisted South Africa's 2010 World Cup Bid Company and was a member of the delegation that went to the FIFA head office in Zurich
to be declared the winning bid. Subsequently he was also appointed as a member of the local organising committee for the 2010 event. Also in 2004, Motaung was given the Entrepreneurial Leadership Award by Henley Management College, South Africa
.
In February 2005 it was announced that Motaung would join the board of Primedia Limited as a non-executive director
. Primedia is South Africa's largest private media holding company and owns 40% of Kaizer Chiefs. He has also served as a director on the boards of many other companies such as Royal Beechnut, Simba, New Age Beverages and Get Ahead.
is currently player from Kaizer Chiefs, his daughter Jessica Motaung is Marketing Manager and his other son Bobby Motaung is team manager. His uncle "Rocks" grass root soccer developer in Phefeni (Orlando West)managed Cecil Motaung's team 'Phefeni Boys".
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n soccer player and founder of the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club
Kaizer Chiefs Football Club
Kaizer Chiefs is a South African football club based in Johannesburg that plays in the Premier Soccer League.The team is nicknamed Amakhosi which means "lords" or "chiefs" in Zulu and Phefeni Glamour Boys. They currently play most of their home games at Soccer City in Nasrec, Soweto, which is...
, of which he is still chairman and managing director. He is nicknamed "Chincha Guluva".
Early life
Born in the Orlando East section of SowetoSoweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
, Motaung first played professional soccer at the age of 16, for Orlando Pirates.
His entry into international soccer occurred in 1968, when Atlanta Chiefs Founder and Owner, Dick Cecil, and former West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
player Phil Woosnam
Phil Woosnam
Phillip Abraham Woosnam is a Welsh former Association football inside-right and manager. He went on to become commissioner of the North American Soccer League.-Playing career:...
(who was manager of the Atlanta Chiefs
Atlanta Chiefs
The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia that played in the NPSL and NASL from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium and Tara Stadium . The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs'...
franchise in the then-recently formed North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL) recruited Motaung after team trials in Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
.
NASL career
Despite struggling to come to terms with the weather and overcoming injury, Motaung made his North American debut for Atlanta Chiefs as a substitute in a friendly game against Manchester CityManchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, scoring two goals in the process. He continued to play brilliantly for the rest of the season, scoring sixteen goals in fifteen matches, making him the top scorer in the league that season. As a result of this achievement, he was voted "Rookie of the Year" and gained a place on the NASL’s All Star Team. In 1975, he returned to the NASL to play two seasons with the Denver Dynamos
Denver Dynamos
The Denver Dynamos were a soccer team based out of Denver that played in the NASL from 1974 to 1975.Their home field was Mile High Stadium. After the 1975 season, they moved to Minnesota and became the Minnesota Kicks.-Year-by-year:...
.
Kaizer Chiefs
When Motaung returned to his home country in 1970, he decided to start his own professional soccer team. Motaung named his club "Kaizer Chiefs" after himself and his former NASL team. Another South African, Jomo SonoJomo Sono
Ephraim Matsilela Sono is a South African soccer club owner and coach and was also a star soccer player....
, also a former player for Orlando Pirates, joined an NASL side New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
in the late 70s (1977). He also returned to form his own professional soccer team which he named Jomo Cosmos
Jomo Cosmos
Jomo Cosmos is a South African football club based in Johannesburg that plays in the Premier Soccer League. The club is owned and coached by South African soccer legend Jomo "Black Prince" Sono....
after himself and his former NASL team, New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
. Currently both clubs still play in the South African Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
.
Despite early setbacks and opposition, Motaung succeeded in assembling a good mix of veterans and talented rookies and the club soon became a force to be reckoned with. Due to Motaung’s charisma Kaizer Chiefs soon had a large following, even drawing supporters away from the (until then) pre-eminent Orlando Pirates as well as those who had previously not supported any local soccer club.
Within a short space of time, Kaizer Chiefs became the most successful team in South Africa, winning more than 78 trophies and gaining an estimated 14 million supporters throughout the country. Indeed, it is often jokingly stated that Kaizer Chiefs do not really play any away matches, as their supporters always outnumber those of the home team.
As of 2005, Motaung is still at the helm of the club he started. One of Kaizer Chiefs' most recent achievements is winning the Mandela Cup African Club Championships in 2001, despite it only being the club’s second season in the competition.
Soccer administrator
Motaung has also been very active in South African soccer administration, having served on both the National Soccer League (NSL) and South African Football Association (SAFA) executives.In addition, Motaung co-founded (with Orlando Pirates' Irvin Khoza
Irvin Khoza
Irvin Khoza is a South African soccer administrator. Nicknamed "Iron Duke / Squveve", he is the Chairman of Orlando Pirates Football Club, Chairman of the South African Premier Soccer League and by virtue of this, Vice-President of the South African Football Association...
) the South African Premier League (PSL) in 1996, which helped bring more sponsors and money into South African professional soccer.
Motaung currently still serves as a member of the PSL’s Board of Governors, while also still running Kaizer Chiefs and being on SAFA’s executive committee. He has also indicated that he would accept a position with the Confederation of African Football
Confederation of African Football
The Confederation of African Football is the administrative and controlling body for African association football.CAF represents the national football associations of Africa, runs continental, national, and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those...
(CAF) or on world soccer’s governing body, FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
.
Motaung was voted 73rd in the Top 100 Great South Africans
SABC3's Great South Africans
Great South Africans was a South African television series that aired on SABC3 and hosted by Noeleen Maholwana Sangqu and Denis Beckett. In September 2004, thousands of South Africans took part in an informal nationwide poll to determine the "100 Greatest South Africans" of all time...
in 2004. He also assisted South Africa's 2010 World Cup Bid Company and was a member of the delegation that went to the FIFA head office in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
to be declared the winning bid. Subsequently he was also appointed as a member of the local organising committee for the 2010 event. Also in 2004, Motaung was given the Entrepreneurial Leadership Award by Henley Management College, South Africa
Henley Management College, South Africa
Henley Management College, South Africa, in the Sunninghill suburb of Johannesburg, is the local campus of the British-based Henley Management College. The South African institution shares international accreditation with its parent and is also locally accreditted in South Africa. The South...
.
In February 2005 it was announced that Motaung would join the board of Primedia Limited as a non-executive director
Non-executive director
A non-executive director or outside director is a member of the board of directors of a company who does not form part of the executive management team. He or she is not an employee of the company or affiliated with it in any other way...
. Primedia is South Africa's largest private media holding company and owns 40% of Kaizer Chiefs. He has also served as a director on the boards of many other companies such as Royal Beechnut, Simba, New Age Beverages and Get Ahead.
Personal life
His son Kaizer Motaung JuniorKaizer Motaung Junior
Kaizer Motaung Junior is a South African football striker for Premier Soccer League club Kaizer Chiefs.- Trivia :He is the son of South African soccer legend and Kaizer Chiefs founder Kaizer Motaung...
is currently player from Kaizer Chiefs, his daughter Jessica Motaung is Marketing Manager and his other son Bobby Motaung is team manager. His uncle "Rocks" grass root soccer developer in Phefeni (Orlando West)managed Cecil Motaung's team 'Phefeni Boys".