It is a pleasure to see you after a while, tell us how did your move to Chiefs happen in the mid 90s?

I was playing for Qwaqwa Stars (now Free State Stars) when Chiefs approached me…we did very well that season winning the Coca Cola Cup and lost to Vaal Professionals in the finals of Bob Save. I agreed to join Chiefs immediately after the Bob Save Final. I joined my new teammates early 1995. It was a dream come true for me and also I felt that I had spent lot of time away from home. I was with Qwaqwa Stars for five years.

Your brother, Ace was already playing in Turkey when you joined Chiefs…

Yes but I had his blessings. He told me that Chiefs is a big Club and I needed to up my game if I was to succeed. I also knew there was huge difference between Chiefs and Qwaqwa Stars so mentally I was prepared for the challenges ahead. My family supported Chiefs so everyone was very excited that I had joined Chiefs.

There must have been a lot of pressure taking into consideration that Ace was a huge success in the famous gold and black jersey…

Playing for Kaizer Chiefs was a pressure in itself, let alone following in the footsteps of Ace. I told myself that Ace was a different player to what I was so I only focused on what I could offer to the team. Some people called me ‘Ace’ even you called me ‘Ace’ when you saw me. (Smiling)

What was the difference between you and Ace?

I joined Qwaqwa Stars as a striker but was converted to a right back position. Later I played more, as a holding midfielder on the other side - Ace was more of a playmaker very creative. He was a very clever player always thinking ahead.

You must have marked him a couple of times…

Oh yes, I remember Shakes Mashaba coaching us and while we were having a team talk he said, “Sipho I need you to do something for me today”, I replied, “I know what you going to ask me to do coach, you want to me to mark Ace,” Make sure you mark him – he said. I knew that Ace was very fit and would run every corner of the pitch just to make you tired.

He was a good trainer and would do squats before training with Chiefs in the morning. He gave me lot of problems that afternoon and at some stage when we were competing for the ball on the air, I elbowed him in the face. I remember watching him bleeding. I felt bad that I had elbowed him, after all he was my brother but on that particular afternoon I had a job to do.

What moments would you regard as highlights during your stay with the Club?

Although we did not win the league - I was happy with the small cups we won (Charity Spectacular and Coca Cola Challenge). The biggest highlight for me was wearing the black and gold and playing with such talented players. I can count, Doctor Khumalo, Thabang Lebese, Thabo Mooki, Jacob Tshisevhe, Isaac Kungwane and many others. I was close with Jacob Tshisevhe.

Your stay with the Club was not long though…

Yeah, I broke my leg in the opening day of the Premier League…I remember vividly we were playing Jomo Cosmos at FNB when I got to the end of Samkelo JamJam’s crunching tackle. I was out for a very long time - I think for about six months. It was then difficult for me to come back to the team. Jeff Butler had also left and Sergio preferred other players so when Paul Doleazer came in mid 1997, I could see that I was not in his plans. I approached him and asked him to allow me to join another team; he said I should speak to the Chairman. The Chairman was reluctant at first to give me permission to leave but eventually he agreed. It was not easy but eventually I left.

What do you make of the current crop of players?

(Smiling) Things went very well during the preseason and I think that took a lot out of the guys. The expectations are very high but I do not think the team is ready yet. There are signs that we can be successful this season. They players need to take responsibility and I think we do need reinforcements in some areas in January.

Sipho Khuse is currently a coach of Trabzone FC currently campaigning in the Vodacom League.