A Bafana reject, a blue eye, a Dube bird, a child star, a ladies man, a man of the people, a superstar, and a legend, writes Hosea Ramphekwa.
This emerged during the premiere of 16V Doctor Khumalo: Untold, a four part documentary series on the life of Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs legend.
On Sunday night, Mzansi got a glimpse into the life of Khumalo, arguably the most famous footballer in the country, through the first episode of the docuseries broadcast on DStv’s Mzansi Magic.
Interesting details came into light about Khumalo, South African football’s poster boy of the 90’s.
His sterling performances on the pitch and his fame off it made Khumalo an iconic figure as one of the most recognizable South Africans.
His story, told through friends, family, journalists, politicians, former teammates, opponents, coaches, administrators and the man himself, captured the country’s imagination just as his contribution to football did.
Here FARPost looks at The Ten (10) Things Learnt From 16V Doctor Khumalo: Untold
DOCTOR KHUMALO TRIED BOXING
Before turning professional, Khumalo tried his hand at boxing but it ended in a blue eye. He was bruised and battered during a sparring bout. His disciplinarian father Eliakim Pro Khumalo forbade him from ever setting his feet in the ring. In 2012, Khumalo told this writer that he, along with his peers, used to do road running with the late legendary Baby Jake Matlala, who was from his neighbourhood.
PLAYED FOR MOROKA SWALLOWS
Khumalo, who hails from Dube, the home of Moroka Swallows, used to tag along with his father, a former Swallows and Chiefs player, to the matches. He would show off his skills, dribbling and juggling during recess and at full time. Swallows boss David Pine Chabeli had an idea to form an Under-14 side, where 16V got a taste of playing for a big team.
ORLANDO PIRATES WANTED HIM
There was a time where Pirates were close to signing him. Bobby Motaung, Chiefs’ football manager, took a taxi from Brits, where there was a football tournament, to Johannesburg to alert his father Kaizer Motaung about Pirates’ plot to sign the young gem. On the day that Khumalo signed a professional contract with Chiefs, Pirates officials showed up at his house at 11pm.
OMMITTED FROM BAFANA’S FIRST SQUAD
For South Africa’s first ever international match in 1992, Khumalo was initially not in the squad announced by then coach Jeff Butler. Following Butler’s disqualification and a superb display in the practice match, Khumalo made the cut and made history by scoring the country’s first ever goal in international football. He scored a solitary penalty against Cameroon at Kings Park Stadium in Durban.
WANTED TO BAIL OUT OF DEBUT AGAINST PIRATES
Khumalo revealed that he was so nervous that he wanted to flee the scene just before Chiefs faced Pirates at Ellispark Stadium in 1987. Khumalo says he wanted to go to the dressing room where he planned to take off his boots and playing kit. However, Chiefs maestro Ace Ntsoelengoe told him he was going nowhere. Khumalo’s plan to catch a taxi home was foiled and he had a blinder of a game.
MUGGED EN ROUTE TO TRAINING
Khumalo had to walk long distances and navigate his way around some of the notorious streets in Soweto. One day he was mugged by 10 guys, who took his training paraphernalia. “One day,” he shouted at them, “you are going to watch me play at Orlando Stadium and you are going to pay.”
A HIT WITH THE LADIES
Blessed with not only scintillating skills but also good looks, Khumalo was a ladies magnet. He was such a hit with the ladies that women used to hog him at soccer matches. Teammates and staff had to drag him from hordes of members of the fairer sex, who wanted a piece of him at stadiums where some would flock to the pitch. Sometimes women would show up at his family’s house in Dube uninvited. His mother Mable and sister Fezile had to evaluate sphithiphithi.
A FAN AND A PLAYER
When he turned professional, Khumalo was still in high school. He was a Chiefs supporter and player at the same time. Khumalo would engage in debates like a supporter during school hours and later go train with the players he and his mates were discussing. He admitted to being one of the noisemakers at school.
RAISED BY DISCIPLINARIANS
Khumalo’s parents set a 6pm curfew for Doctor and his sister Fezile. The footballer and his sister often played one-two to dribble their parents, especially when Doctor returned after curfew. Fezile would sneak her brother in after hours.
A CHILD STAR
While in primary school, Khumalo was chosen as one of the three pupils to feature in a Barkers Eat Some More TV advert. That was his first TV appearance.
16V Doctor Khumalo: Untold airs on DStv channel 161 every Sunday at 20:00.
