It was talked about for a number of years and on Thursday amid a clamour of television crews and photographers Kaizer Chiefs finally got to meet Kaiser Chiefs. You may think what are kaizerchiefs.com on about, well some time in 1997 five English lads decided to form a rock 'n roll band and they called it Kaiser Chiefs - an honour for Lucas Radebe who played for Kaizer Chiefs before moving to play and captain their loved team, Leeds United.

The band which comprises of Ricky Wilson, Andrew 'Whitey' White, Simon Rix, Nick 'Peanut' Baines, and Nick Hodgson who are currently on tour in South Africa, came to the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena on Thursday and took on a make shift Chiefs team in a five a side game. Radebe captained the Chiefs team which also included Shaun Bartlett, Fabian McCarthy, Amakhosi technical team staff Muhsin Ertugral, his assistant Fani Madida as well as goalkeeper coach Rainer Dinkelacker.

Loving it

Kaizerchiefs.com got talking to the band's lanky curly haired bass player Rix who like the other members of the band is an ardent Leeds United fan. Rix who has been enjoying his tour thus far in South Africa said of his visit to Naturena. “It has been wonderful finally getting to come to South Africa and meeting the Kaizer Chiefs football team, we really did not know what to expect when we got here but the reception has been exceptional”.

Skipper honoured

Radebe explained to kaizerchiefs.com that the band naming themselves Kaiser Chiefs and their subsequent rise to fame, is an honour not just directed at him, but at The Amakhosi in general. Radebe said “believe me that having this band linked to South African Football is not really to honour me but to honour this great team that is Kaizer Chiefs and they deserve having such a successful band sharing a similar name”.

It was Radebe's first outing in a Chiefs jersey in many years and he said afterwards. “I think the last time I played in a Chiefs shirt was back in 1993 it has been fifteen years since I last turned out for Chiefs”.

Fan Support

There was a large crowd to watch Thursday’s exhibition match and it was an enjoyable outing for the Kaiser Chiefs group as well as the Chiefs first team who watched the match from the stands at Naturena.

Afterwards each band member and Radebe were given a personalized Kaizer Chiefs shirt.

Kaiser Chiefs will be attending the Amakhosi’s Absa Premiership match on Friday evening in Rustenburg against AmaZulu.