Chairman Kaizer Motaung reflects on 53 years of Kaizer Chiefs

Founded on 7 January 1970 by a group of players and officials who had broken away from Orlando Pirates, Chiefs have gone on to become one of the biggest football clubs in the country in terms of support base.

Motaung used this as an opportunity to motivate the team ahead of Saturday’s DStv Premiership fixture against Sekhukhune United at FNB Stadium.

"A very, very precious day for us because that was when the whole ship started to float. Again, I want to take this opportunity to wish you well for the second half of the season. You started the year on a good note," said the boss.

"Everything is in your hands, you can determine what you want to achieve only if you commit to the cause and know that we are all together in this thing. Altogether, including the supporters."

Reflecting on the 53-year journey, Motaung, who named the club after his former US club Atlanta Chiefs, shared the importance of inviting the first team to the spiritual home in Phefeni. 

"Here is just to make you aware of where this thing started and then you can make up your mind to say, ‘It started at a very small, tender age, but where is it today?’ 

"None of us, in our wildest dreams, ever thought we are putting something of this kind of magnitude that you see today. The brand [Kaizer Chiefs] is such a big brand, not only in the continent but in the world", Motaung claimed. 

Chiefs players were met by legends who shared the history of the club, with all-time leading goal scorer Marks Maponyane, with 85 goals, also highlighting the need for the visit, especially for the new players.

"It's when you've worked hard, your children think these riches you were born with. And that's what Kaizer [Motaung Snr] was doing to say, 'This team wasn't born with these riches. This is where we started,'" he noted.

"The team started in a humble background and these humble beginnings led to hunger, hard work and all the achievements that you enjoying today. Yours is just to always look that and improve it."

Meanwhile, despite not winning silverware for the past eight years, legend and former striker Johannes “Big Boy” Kholoane, who, like Motaung and Maponyane, played for Pirates, is encouraged to see a slight improvement in the team under coach Arthur Zwane.

Chiefs are currently fourth on the DStv Premiership table after 14 games played, and could climb up to third should the claim all three points against Sekhukhune this evening.