“He is my hero and I am honoured to accept this on his behalf,” stressed Kaizer Chiefs marketing director Jessica Motaung after receiving the Castle Lager Lifetime Achievement Award for Club Chairman Kaizer Motaung.

This prestigious award was given by the Discovery Sport Industry Awards on Thursday evening to celebrate Kaizer Motaung’s commitment and presence in South African sport.

“The founder of Kaizer Chiefs has never stopped working towards making the Club a success, and in the process he changed the face of South African soccer,” read a statement from Discovery.

The award was handed to Jessica Motaung by former Chiefs player Lucas Radebe.

In the acceptance speech, Amakhosi’s marketing director spoke warm words about the Chairman’s history as a player, as a Club Chairman and as an influential person in South African soccer.

“My father is a humble man from humble beginnings,” Motaung stressed, talking about the Chairman’s roots in soccer and the foundation of Kaizer Chiefs.

In the sixties, Kaizer Motaung went to play for Atlanta Chiefs in the United States. About Amakhosi’s formation, Jessica Motaung said: “The States was a spiritual awaking for my father, attending Dr Martin Luther King’s church changed his life.”

“He too started having a dream fuelled by black consciousness, his love and passion for the game and yearning for his motherland South Africa. Deeply impressed with Atlanta Chiefs’ approach to the business of sport resonated well with my father and helped guide and grow his dream into a vision.

“On his return back home, problems erupted at his South African club Orlando Pirates. After winning his father’s blessing, he forged his destiny as an icon of South African football by starting Kaizer XI, which soon became Kaizer Chiefs in 1970.”

“My father turned 70 in October last year and this year the Club celebrates 45 years of existence. His determination and vision has singlehandedly shaped Kaizer Chiefs into what it is today. We are now ranked fourth in Africa and first in South Africa, currently leading the PSL log.”

“Kaizer Motaung is an iconic visionary, an inspired leader, an empowering Chairman, a demanding boss, an astute businessman, a solid role model, a true friend, a loving husband, an amazing father and a devoted grandfather.”

“He’s a man that inspires greatness but yet, he remains a truly humble man.”

When the speech was finished there was a thunderous applause from the about 1.200-strong crowd in attendance, representing various South African sports.