Former Pirates captain Lekgwathi recalls treble-winning rewards
Former Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi has shared heartwarming anecdotes about the fan appreciation he received after leading the club to a historic double treble in the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons.
Pirates enjoyed a 24-month golden era, capturing six trophies. This incredible haul included two league titles, two MTN8 cups, a Nedbank Cup, and a Telkom Knockout Cup.
This remarkable run solidified Lekgwathi’s status as the club’s most successful captain in the modern era.
“Phinda Mzala,” as he’s well-known, has often been tasked with welcoming new signings to Pirates and sharing stories of the club’s rich history and passionate fanbase.
In an exclusive interview with this website, Lekgwathi recounted stories of the incredible fan support he received during the Sea Robbers’ successful era.
The 48-year-old revealed that winning the double treble led to perks like “free petrol and meals” as fans expressed their gratitude.
LUCKY LEKGWATHI – ‘HE SAID PUT FREE PETROL FOR HIM’
“I told them [current Pirates players] that if you win a trophy at Pirates, you can just walk anywhere, maybe buy a meal at a restaurant, a supporter will come and say we will pay for you. Don’t stress,” Lekgwathi told FARPost.
“You go to a petrol station, and you put in petrol. They say, ‘How much? ‘ and say, ‘Don’t worry, we will pay for you.’ I remember it happened with me after winning the treble. I was driving in Durban, I went to a garage, and people were very happy for me.
“The owner of the garage came and asked the petrol attendant, and he said to him, ‘You don’t know this guy? He is our captain’.
“He [the garage owner] said put petrol for him for free, and he must go inside [the garage store] and take anything he wants. I was with true supporters. That’s life of playing for Pirates and winning.”
RELATED STORY: Lucky Lekgwathi addresses Orlando Pirates’ captaincy issue