Posted in Features, News on Jul 27, 2024.
Kaizer Chiefs’ legends team, coached by former Amakhosi midfielder Thabo Mooki, are ready to take on their counterparts from Bloemfontein Celtic on Sunday afternoon in the Toyota Cup at the Toyota Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. The game is a precursor to the main event - which will see the Chiefs first team take on Tanzanian side, Young Africans - and will kick off at 12h30, with two halves of 30 minutes.
Mooki is pleased to have some familiar faces back, with midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala interrupting his holiday in Zanzibar to land in Mzansi on Saturday morning and head to Bloemfontein to catch up with the rest of the team. Striker Colins Mbesuma is also out of the country, in Zambia, and will be returning on Saturday before heading out to Bloemfontein.
“The event is exciting,” explained Mooki.
“All the guys want to be part of the team. We have a good camaraderie and it’s always good to catch up,” the coach went on to add.
The Amakhosi legends team also welcomes back Doctor Khumalo, who returns after recovering from a hamstring injury he picked up during the team’s 3-2 triumph over Orlando Pirates Legends, played in Malamulele the Limpopo Province in July last year.
‘16V’ let it be known that he is ready to play: “I have been training since my injury healed. I have played some games and I am ready to take on Celtic,” Khumalo, who underwent an operation last year to fix the issue, divulged.
Khumalo urged fans to back the Amakhosi in the 2024-25 season by turning up in big numbers to see them take on Young Africans.
“Let us support the team,” the all-time great appealed, before putting down a prediction for the upcoming season, saying , “I believe that this season will be a totally different ball-game, and Amakhosi are back.”
He also made a clarion call saying, “Come and support the legends and the first team. This is where the journey starts. We crawl now, and we will be sprinting later, come the 2024-25 season.”
Chiefs Legends’ last game was a penalty shoot-out win in mid-May against Orlando Pirates in Dondotta in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Mooki is confident that the team will build on from that win.
“The win in Richards Bay is a positive one for us,” the coach explained. He complimented his team, adding, “We were well-structured in that game against Pirates. We entertained the fans, and we hope to do so again on Sunday in Bloemfontein.”
Kaizer Chiefs FC Legends Squad:
GOALKEEPERS: Brian Baloyi, Tladi Mathibe
DEFENDERS: Cyril Nzama, Bevin Fransman, Morgan Gould, Tsepo Masilela, Derrick Spencer, Fabian McCarthy
MIDFIELDERS: Doctor Khumalo, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Willard Katsande, Josta Dladla, Thuso Phala, Mandla Masango, Jabu Mahlangu, Stanton Fredericks.
FORWARDS: David Radebe, Collins Mbesuma, Bernard Parker
HEAD COACH: Thabo Mooki
ASSISTANT COACH: Tsepo Molatedi
