Kaizer Chiefs
When Motaung returned to his home country in 1970, he decided to start his own professional soccer team. Motaung named his club "Kaizer Chiefs" after himself and his former NASL team. Another South African, Jomo Sono, also a former player for Orlando Pirates, joined an NASL side New York Cosmos in the late 70s (1977). He also returned to form his own professional soccer team which he named Jomo Cosmos after himself and his former NASL team, the New York Cosmos. Jomo Cosmos was however relegated in the 2011/12 edition of the South African Premier Soccer League.
Despite early setbacks and opposition, Motaung succeeded in assembling a good mix of veterans and talented rookies and the club soon became a force to be reckoned with. The Kaizer Chiefs soon had a large following.
Within a short time, the Kaizer Chiefs became the most successful team in South Africa, winning more than 78 trophies and gaining an estimated fourteen million supporters throughout the country. Indeed, it is often jokingly stated that Kaizer Chiefs do not really play any away matches, as their supporters always outnumber those of the home team.
As of 2005, Motaung is still at the helm of the club he started. One of the Kaizer Chiefs' most recent achievements is winning the Mandela Cup African Club Championships in 2001, despite it only being the club’s second season in the competition.
Read more about this topic: Kaizer Motaung
Famous quotes containing the word chiefs:
“Fashion understands itself; good-breeding and personal superiority of whatever country readily fraternize with those of every other. The chiefs of savage tribes have distinguished themselves in London and Paris, by the purity of their tournure.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)