Posted in News on Dec 28, 2011.
1993 & 2003-2006
John Shoes Moshoeu is one of the best midfielders to have donned the gold and black and was a darling to the Kaizer Chiefs faithful who would always shout, ‘Shoooooooooooooes’ every time he touched the ball
Having rejoined the Club following close to a decade in Turkey, he said, “I will not allow my reputation to play for me. I am going to work hard like everyone else and I should be judged on the field. I am here to win things not to retire." He was inspirational as the Glamour Boys won back-to-back titles in 2003-2005.
A natural-born winner, at the age of 46, Shoes is still going strong at Alexander United. “I was a top goalscorer last season in the Vodacom League”. In a rare interview he spoke to <strong<kaizerchiefs.com about his ‘three’ spells at the Club.
My transfer...
I joined Kaizer Chiefs officially in 1993 from Giant Blackpool. Chiefs had to dig deep on their pockets as they had to pay a fee of R250 000, breaking the existing transfer records in the domestic league at that time. I was proud to have joined my favourite Club. I remember Orlando Pirates had tried to raise the money to buy me, even opening a bank account where they asked their fans to deposit money, but in the end Chiefs paid for my services.
I would have joined Chiefs earlier even before I joined Blackpool. I played for Chiefs’ C & B team, coached by the late Tikkie Khoza and the late ‘Pro’ Khumalo (Doctor’s father). Many believe that I failed at Chiefs then but it is not the case. I went back to my local Club in Diepkloof. I was enjoying myself there and saw no reason to join Chiefs.
Bra Sam Motaung is the person who took me to Chiefs reserves then. I was neighbours with one of the Chiefs officials, then known as ‘Supporters’, a gentleman by the name of Ike Kungwane. I used to see the heroes, Ace Ntsoelengoe, Malombo Lechaba and many others visiting the house.
Despite this I decided against joining Chiefs, rather going back to my local Club in Diepkloof. I never really understood why people should move from the area where they enjoy themselves to play somewhere else. I never wanted to move to Turkey for instance and, if I had my way, I would have stayed at Kaizer Chiefs.
My debut...
I do not have much recollection about past games; maybe it is because I am still playing and for me I always look forward. I have fond memories of wearing the gold and black in 1993, playing alongside some of the best players in this country. Playing for Kaizer Chiefs was really an honour but I had to leave for Turkey following the games against Manchester United (FNB Stadium) and Arsenal (Absa Stadium).
My first goal...
I had always preferred being a ‘creator’ than a scorer. I have fond memories of creating that header for Kapamba Musasa in one of the Soweto derbies. I was able to pick him in between two or three defenders for him to grab a winner at FNB Stadium. I also loved scoring special goals. A goal scored while leading 6-0 was of no real significance to me.
My best derby...
It has to be the derby in the 2003/2004 season where we beat Orlando Pirates 2-0. I was on fire that day, creating one goal for David Radebe and scoring the other.
The team I wanted to beat most...
All opponents were difficult! I wanted to beat everyone because to win the league you need to win against all the teams. Real Madrid must beat the likes of Malaga to win the championship. It is the same with Chiefs. You need to beat the likes of Leopards because the derby can go anywhere. I preferred winning the league to winning the derby and losing the title.
My roommate...
I shared a room with Doctor (Khumalo) when I joined Kaizer Chiefs in 1993. I was fine though with all other guys. When I rejoined Chiefs after my spell in Europe I shared mostly with Fabian McCarthy and the likes of Jabulani Mendu and Patrick Mayo, the senior guys.
The young guys were always getting a go from other players for sharing with me. The likes of Junior Khanye would be even afraid of going to the bathroom; preferring to go to the reception. I liked reading a lot during camp. Even today I read a lot of books. Currently I am reading Judgement Day by Dave Hunt. If you can see my house, every room has a book!
My naughtiest teammate...
The player who was naughty the most was Doctor Khumalo; not in a bad way though. He would surprise you and you needed to be on your toes when he was around!
My favourite Stadium...
I have fond memories of playing at Ellis Park wearing the gold and black. I loved that stadium. I preferred Ellis Park over FNB Stadium. FNB Stadium was big and I liked when a Coach assigned a player to ‘follow Shoes’. Well in that big stadium you were inviting a problem as I would run the whole pitch. I was used to the size of the pitch.
My favourite Coach...
Coaches are different; they come in different shapes and sizes. I like to think I enjoyed my football more when I played on the streets and school football. I was myself; no restrictions, no tactics. Coaches at times say to you, ‘Shoes do this for me’. You go into the field and do what is asked of you and the supporters in the stands will attack you not knowing that you were following instructions. Playing in the streets brought out the best in me.
My nickname...
When I played in the Kaizer Chiefs reserves I was called ‘Toy’. I do not know if some of my teammates then still remember that but my nickname has always been ‘Shoes’. I am not quite sure where it came from and I have been saying that the person who gave that nickname to me should come out. I would love to know why I was nicknamed ‘Shoes’. If you look at my surname, Moshoeu it has a ‘shoe’ in it, so maybe that is a reason. I do not know.
John Shoes Moshoeu is one of the best midfielders to have donned the gold and black and was a darling to the Kaizer Chiefs faithful who would always shout, ‘Shoooooooooooooes’ every time he touched the ball
Having rejoined the Club following close to a decade in Turkey, he said, “I will not allow my reputation to play for me. I am going to work hard like everyone else and I should be judged on the field. I am here to win things not to retire." He was inspirational as the Glamour Boys won back-to-back titles in 2003-2005.
A natural-born winner, at the age of 46, Shoes is still going strong at Alexander United. “I was a top goalscorer last season in the Vodacom League”. In a rare interview he spoke to <strong<kaizerchiefs.com about his ‘three’ spells at the Club.
My transfer...
I joined Kaizer Chiefs officially in 1993 from Giant Blackpool. Chiefs had to dig deep on their pockets as they had to pay a fee of R250 000, breaking the existing transfer records in the domestic league at that time. I was proud to have joined my favourite Club. I remember Orlando Pirates had tried to raise the money to buy me, even opening a bank account where they asked their fans to deposit money, but in the end Chiefs paid for my services.
I would have joined Chiefs earlier even before I joined Blackpool. I played for Chiefs’ C & B team, coached by the late Tikkie Khoza and the late ‘Pro’ Khumalo (Doctor’s father). Many believe that I failed at Chiefs then but it is not the case. I went back to my local Club in Diepkloof. I was enjoying myself there and saw no reason to join Chiefs.
Bra Sam Motaung is the person who took me to Chiefs reserves then. I was neighbours with one of the Chiefs officials, then known as ‘Supporters’, a gentleman by the name of Ike Kungwane. I used to see the heroes, Ace Ntsoelengoe, Malombo Lechaba and many others visiting the house.
Despite this I decided against joining Chiefs, rather going back to my local Club in Diepkloof. I never really understood why people should move from the area where they enjoy themselves to play somewhere else. I never wanted to move to Turkey for instance and, if I had my way, I would have stayed at Kaizer Chiefs.
My debut...
I do not have much recollection about past games; maybe it is because I am still playing and for me I always look forward. I have fond memories of wearing the gold and black in 1993, playing alongside some of the best players in this country. Playing for Kaizer Chiefs was really an honour but I had to leave for Turkey following the games against Manchester United (FNB Stadium) and Arsenal (Absa Stadium).
My first goal...
I had always preferred being a ‘creator’ than a scorer. I have fond memories of creating that header for Kapamba Musasa in one of the Soweto derbies. I was able to pick him in between two or three defenders for him to grab a winner at FNB Stadium. I also loved scoring special goals. A goal scored while leading 6-0 was of no real significance to me.
My best derby...
It has to be the derby in the 2003/2004 season where we beat Orlando Pirates 2-0. I was on fire that day, creating one goal for David Radebe and scoring the other.
The team I wanted to beat most...
All opponents were difficult! I wanted to beat everyone because to win the league you need to win against all the teams. Real Madrid must beat the likes of Malaga to win the championship. It is the same with Chiefs. You need to beat the likes of Leopards because the derby can go anywhere. I preferred winning the league to winning the derby and losing the title.
My roommate...
I shared a room with Doctor (Khumalo) when I joined Kaizer Chiefs in 1993. I was fine though with all other guys. When I rejoined Chiefs after my spell in Europe I shared mostly with Fabian McCarthy and the likes of Jabulani Mendu and Patrick Mayo, the senior guys.
The young guys were always getting a go from other players for sharing with me. The likes of Junior Khanye would be even afraid of going to the bathroom; preferring to go to the reception. I liked reading a lot during camp. Even today I read a lot of books. Currently I am reading Judgement Day by Dave Hunt. If you can see my house, every room has a book!
My naughtiest teammate...
The player who was naughty the most was Doctor Khumalo; not in a bad way though. He would surprise you and you needed to be on your toes when he was around!
My favourite Stadium...
I have fond memories of playing at Ellis Park wearing the gold and black. I loved that stadium. I preferred Ellis Park over FNB Stadium. FNB Stadium was big and I liked when a Coach assigned a player to ‘follow Shoes’. Well in that big stadium you were inviting a problem as I would run the whole pitch. I was used to the size of the pitch.
My favourite Coach...
Coaches are different; they come in different shapes and sizes. I like to think I enjoyed my football more when I played on the streets and school football. I was myself; no restrictions, no tactics. Coaches at times say to you, ‘Shoes do this for me’. You go into the field and do what is asked of you and the supporters in the stands will attack you not knowing that you were following instructions. Playing in the streets brought out the best in me.
My nickname...
When I played in the Kaizer Chiefs reserves I was called ‘Toy’. I do not know if some of my teammates then still remember that but my nickname has always been ‘Shoes’. I am not quite sure where it came from and I have been saying that the person who gave that nickname to me should come out. I would love to know why I was nicknamed ‘Shoes’. If you look at my surname, Moshoeu it has a ‘shoe’ in it, so maybe that is a reason. I do not know.
