‘Do it for Lucas Moripe’ – Pretoria Callies chairman
In an emotional speech in the presence of football icon Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe, Pretoria Callies chairman Moses Malada has urged his players to promote the club to the Betway Premiership in his honour.
Callies began the 2024/25 season in the Motsepe Foundation Championship with a 1-0 win against the league’s newcomers Leruma United on Saturday at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
Moripe, who now uses a wheelchair, attended the match. He is considered one of the greatest players in the country, alongside Orlando Pirates Icon Jomo Sono.
Moripe played for Callies during their NPSL days. Those who had the opportunity to watch say he was so great that they named him ‘Modimo wa Bolo’ [The football God].
In 2010, the Atteridgeville Super Stadium was renamed in his honour. The stadium is currently utilised by Mamelodi Sundowns, SuperSport United, and other Motsepe Foundation Championship teams. There is also a street named after him in Atteridgeville.
FOOTBALL ICON LUCAS MASTERPIECES MORIPE PAYS A COURTESY VISIT TO PRETORIA CALLIES PLAYERS
Speaking to the players after the match on Saturday, Malada wants his players to draw inspiration from Moripe’s presence.
“The God of football is this man. So today [Saturday], we decided that he must come because we are playing around his township,” said Malada. “To come and greet and give you his blessings. You can see he is old, but he loves this team. So if we push with the energy and get promoted, it won’t be for me.”
“You must do it for him. So you owe it to him to promote the team to the PSL [Betway Premiership],” he told the players. Put this in the back of your mind to say, ‘What more can you do to put this team back in the PSL?’.”
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