Rulani Mokwena pays tribute to Kaizer Motaung Snr ahead of MTN8 battle

Mokwena is the grandson of the late former Orlando Pirates captain Eric ‘Scara’ Sono, while his uncle is the iconic Buccanneers legend Jomo Sono.  

He says his family lineage recently brought him face to face with Motaung, a legendary figure in his own right. 

"When I met Ntate Kaizer Motaung for the first time, he called me and said, 'I've been meaning to speak to you for many, many years,' and I said, 'I'm all ears sir,' and he said to me, 'If it wasn't for your grandfather, and his passing away, there would've been no Kaizer Chiefs,'" details Mokwena.

"I looked at him [Motaung] and I said, 'What do you mean?' He said, 'The amount of respect I have for your grandfather and what he did for my career, I would never have started this incredible football club, if he was still alive.'

"As a kid that grew up in Orlando West, I know, having experienced so many Soweto derbies – first-hand, I would watch so many games and, my goodness, I would understand the feeling in the township when Chiefs won.

"I would hear what the people would say, I would see the story line among a lot of the situations when Pirates played Chiefs or when Swallows played Chiefs, and how many games you just saw God's divine hand falling upon Kaizer Chiefs.

"God must be a Kaizer Chiefs supporter, and there is no – no, seriously – greater compliment that could be given... You guys laugh, and I'm really serious. Honestly, I wish someone would say to me, 'My goodness, God loves you.'"