Mooki makes it 365 not out
Mooki makes it 365 not out

Posted in News on Dec 21, 2006.

Kaizer Chiefs ended a remarkable eight weeks of climbing up the table, which saw them move from being in twelfth position on the table, to ending off 2006 in second place.



A climb of ten spots which was unimaginable a month ago. While the record books have had to be altered in Chiefs' recent games as the Amakhosi netted nine goals in two games this past week, as they first put six goals past Maritzburg United and then scored three more on Wednesday evening against Santos.



While they have collectively begun to set the record straight, there have also been a number of individual achievements within the teams ranks, the most notable of all being Thabo Mooki’s overtaking Neil Tovey as the second most capped Chiefs player.



Mooki, who came on as a 68th minute substitute against Santos in Wednesday evenings 3-2 win, made his 365th appearance in official competitive league and cup matches for Chiefs, thus overtaking Neil Tovey’s record of 364 games.



The former Chiefs and Bafana Bafana captain, played in from 1990 when he joined the Amakhosi to the end of the 1998 – 1999 season.



Thabo is now in second place behind Chiefs all time record appearance holder Doctor Khumalo who between 1987 and his retirement at the end of 2003, had donned the famous black and gold Chiefs jersey in 397 official league and cup games.



A delighted Thabo Mooki said of his achievement on Wednesday evening, “like I said before, it is not the fact that I have played so many games, it is the fact that I am in the company of Chiefs greats like Doctor Khumalo and Neil Tovey that makes this game all the more special”.



Thabo, affectionately known as Tsiki Tsiki by his peers and supporters alike, equalled and broke Tovey’s record in style in his record-equalling 364th game against Maritzburg United on Sunday. The first part he played in the game a few minutes after entering the field as a second half substitute, was to send in a corner from the left which was met by the head of another second half substitute Serge Djiehoua whose strike put Chiefs 4-1 ahead.



In related news, defender Siphiwe Mkhonza played in his fiftieth game for Chiefs in the recent 1-1 draw against Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on the 9th December.



Mkhonza who signed on for Chiefs prior to the start of the 2004 – 2005 season, has played in a total of fifty-two league and cup games for Chiefs and has started in forty six of them. He has made a further six substitute appearances for The Amakhosi.



With the ABSA Cup and a further sixteen league games still to come in the new year, Thabo will be hoping to use the remaining games in the 2006 – 2007 season to close the gap on Doctor Khumalo. Should he avoid picking up any injuries or suspensions, he should be able to close out the 2006 – 2007 season within touching distance of Doctor Khumalo’s 397 game record.



Thabo Mooki highlights at Chiefs



1st April 1994: April fools day 1994 Thabo make his debut for Chiefs in a 2-0 win over Amazulu in Durban



18th April 1994: Thabo scores his first goal for Chiefs in a 2-0 victory over Callies



28th November 1998: Scores a minute into the 1998 Rothmans Cup Final against Mamelodi Sundowns, Chiefs eventually win the game 2-1 0n a penalty shoot out.



28th March 1999: Scores his tenth PSL goal for Chiefs with a well taken controlled shot from distance, in a nine game thriller against Cape Town Spurs at Athlone Stadium.



12th January 2002: Brings up his 20th goal for Chiefs in a 2-1 loss to Umtata Bush Bucks.



23rd April 2006: Thabo makes his 350th appearance for Chiefs as a second half substitute against Silver Stars as Chiefs eventually win the game 2-1.



17th December 2006: Equals Neil Toveys record of 364 games as he comes on in the second half of Chiefs 6-1 win over Maritzburg United.



20th December: Plays in his 365th game for Chiefs over taking Neil Tovey and goes into second place behind Doctor Khumalo as the second most capped Chiefs player, As Chiefs defeat Santos 3-2 in their final game of 2006.

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