Revered football administrator Walter Steenbok has opened up about the five-minute presentation that ultimately secured his move to Kaizer Chiefs.
Steenbok has served the Soweto giants across two separate stints, initially as the head of the academy between 2008 and 2010. His role also involved assisting in the Football Manager’s office.
He was part of the setup that identified and brought in talents such as Knowledge Musona, Zhaimu Jambo, Lincoln Zvasiya and Thomas Sweswe.
In his second stint, he served as Head Scouting, Recruitment and Analysis. Steenbok contributed to a technical team that came agonisingly close to major silverware, finishing just short in the league and reaching the CAF Champions League final, where Chiefs were beaten by Al Ahly in 2021. They also fell short in the Nedbank Cup, which was famously won by TS Galaxy despite their status as a lower-division side at the time.
In an interview with African Football Connect, Steenbok said the turning point came when Chiefs’ football manager Bobby Motaung visited Kimberley and was introduced to him through a mutual associate.
THE PRESENTATION TO BOBBY MOTAUNG
“So, Bobby was in Kimberley, and he has always maintained a good relationship with Advocate Phemelo Sehunelo,” Steenbok explained. “Phemelo is a big supporter of Kaizer Chiefs. He told Bobby, ‘There’s a guy I want you to meet. I want him to present you and do something here.’”
Despite his demanding schedule, Motaung agreed to the meeting, a decision that would prove pivotal. Steenbok delivered his presentation, and the response was immediate.
“Within five minutes, he said I needed to present to the Chairman [Kaizer Motaung Snr]. That’s how I ended up at Chiefs,” he said.
He further revealed that upon his arrival, Motaung encouraged him to immerse himself in the club’s operations while preparing for a bigger responsibility.
“When I went to Chiefs, Bobby said I could sit here and learn from him, but he wanted me to take over the Kaizer Chiefs Academy,” Steenbok added.
Steenbok remains appreciative of the opportunity, particularly the mentorship he received from Motaung, who himself learned under his father, Kaizer Motaung Snr.
Between his two stints, he spent eight years at Mamelodi Sundowns, circa 2010 to 2018. He was part of the team that won three league titles, including the 2016 CAF Champions League.
Over the years, he has built a reputation as a scholar of the game, earning a PhD in Sports Science from the University of Johannesburg. The PhD adds to a strong academic portfolio that includes a Master’s degree in sport directorship from Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom and an MBA in sports management from Real Madrid in Spain.
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