The sweet sounding voices of the two time Grammy winning Soweto Gospel Choir rang out as The Amakhosi got back to training after being given Monday and Tuesday off, on Wednesday morning at the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena.

The 50 group ensemble, who recently won their second successive Grammy award which is the highest honour for musical achievement back in February, were invited by Chiefs to lunch as well as to attend the training session and mingle with the players.

The Choir, which was founded back in 2003 by David Mulovhedzi and Beverly Bryan, first came to prominence at the 46664 Concert in 2003 held in honour of Nelson Mandela, and have since become a household name around the globe.

Chairman Welcome

Amakhosi Chairman Kaizer Motaung welcomed the Choir to the Kaizer Chiefs village and he began by commending them on their Grammy success as he added, “your achievements in winning the 2007 Grammy for The best traditional World Music Album which was a successful defense of the same award you won in 2006. Is a fantastic achievement which has given you international recognition and you have done the country proud”. He then joked about with the Choir saying, “ I can see from your eyes that all of you are Chiefs fans” a statement which resulted in them bursting out into joyous song once again.

Almost a Chief

David Mulovhedzi one of the co-founders of the Soweto Gospel Choir let out one of his secrets on Wednesday as he narrated to the Chiefs Chairman and his charges a story from his past. As he added “not many of you will know this but during my days as a footballer I played for a team in Chiawelo, one of my teammates was former Chiefs player Stanley 'Screamer' Tshabalala. When he left to join Chiefs towards the end of 1969 he came to me and said that he wanted me to come and join him at this new team that he is part of, I told that I was happy where I was little did I know what Kaizer Chiefs was to become”.

Famous faces

The growing popularity of the Soweto Gospel Choir has meant that they have been able to rub shoulders with a lot famous people from around the world. Other than meeting Mr. Nelson Mandela, Choir member and staunch Chiefs fan Vusumuzi ‘Ten Ten’ Tshabalala ranks meeting the Chiefs first team ahead meeting various other. The big man with the melodious voice said “ I have been a Chiefs fan since I was a little guy and it is a really emotional occasion for me this. Getting to meet the Chiefs Chairman as well as the players, Chiefs have been in my heart and will always be. Coming here has increased the passion I have for Chiefs, getting to show the players the Grammy that we won was wonderful especially since a number of them told us that they appreciate our music and that we deserved these awards”.