Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo has recalled the call that his mother made to the late coach Ted Dimitri ahead of his first Soweto Derby.
This came after Khumalo found out in a pre-match meeting that he will be featured in the game. It was going to be his first game at the Glamour Boys.
Khumalo’s mother called Dimitri to plead with him not to play her son. She insisted that he was still young for a game of that magnitude.
The former Bafana Bafana international was speaking in an interview on Metro FM [Sports Night Amplified with Andile Ncube] on Thursday night.
DOCTOR KHUMALO REVEALS WHAT HIS MOTHER SAID TO TED DIMITRI
“My mom called coach Dimitri before my first game at Chiefs [Soweto derby]. She told him not to play me because I was too young,” recalled Khumalo.
“And also that the other players would break me.
“I found out in the pre-match meeting that I would play in my first Soweto derby. And that was after I had only signed with Kaizer Chiefs that Monday.”
Meanwhile, Khumalo himself further explained that he wasn’t ready to start the game as he wanted to start from the bench.
“When the coach called my name as part of the starting 11 for the Soweto derby I couldn’t believe it,” he added.
“I wasn’t ready to start the game, I was ready to start on the bench and watch the game.
“Ted Dimitri told me to bring my world-class game during my first Soweto derby. He told me to play how I was playing in training and just keep it simple.”
DOCTOR KHUMALO REVEALS HOW HE WANTED TO RUN AWAY ON THE DAY OF THE MATCH
On a fascinating note, Khumalo divulged how he wanted to run away on the day of the Soweto derby because he couldn’t stand the heat [scared].
“The match was going to be delayed by 10 minutes. At that moment I wanted to run away to the changing room, change into my own clothes. I wanted to leave a thank you note, and go. I was so scared.
“And I was so full before my first Soweto derby. I was told I could eat anything at the pre-match lunch. My plate had everything on it – meat, cheese, banana, etc.”
He also revealed how he still argues with Jan ‘Malombo’ Lichaba on who made the jersey number 15 more famous at Chiefs.
“To this day, Jan ‘Malombo’ Lichaba and I still argue about who made jersey 15 famous at Kaizer Chiefs between me and him,” Khumalo stated.
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