“I have my little story to tell and share with the house here today. Just a little story. Just so you are all aware that I have not accepted invitations from other institutions to be honoured. I did not disagree nor refuse to be honoured easily.
“I did so as I felt I had not scratched the surface yet. I believe there’s so much work outstanding to be done in our country. South Africa is beset with so many challenges and I thought accepting an honour would not be justified at that stage.
“However, I stand here very proud and pleased to accept this honour from this institution. Growing up in Soweto, Orlando East, never did I imagine I will be standing here today. I started professional soccer at the age of 16 for Orlando Pirates Football Club, and ironically Pirates are archrivals today of Kaizer Chiefs [the 1970 offspring].”
The speaker of the words stood on the podium at Sarah Baartman Hall on Upper Campus at the University of Cape Town’s July graduation ceremony.
Looking regal in a red gown, he regaled the audience with bits of the story of his life. He was one of the graduates conferred with degrees.
The idea of honorary degrees originated at the Oxford University long before I was an idea in my father’s head. Looooong before he and his father’s father and their father fathomed the idea of procreation. In the 1470s, to be exact, when Lionel Woodville was awarded an honorary degree by the university.
Kaizer Motaung, the chairman of Kaizer Chiefs, the club he and others founded on the aforementioned date, accepted the honorary doctorate degree in social sciences by the Cape varsity.
Motaung is not a man of many words. Quite reserved, in fact, bodering on the shy. But when it comes to being bold, the boldest move that certainly ranks highest on his achievements was birthing Chiefs. He nursed it through its infancy. He saw it grow through teenage years and graduate to adulthood.
That the club became a phenomenon of domestic football – and stood on the sporting stage as a symbol of success – is largely credited to Motaung’s nous and smooth operator ways.
When it comes to being bold, the boldest move that certainly ranks highest on his achievements was birthing Chiefs
It is his wisdom to not pass himself off as the jack of all trades that sets him apart. Allowing space for those who know more than him to operate in their respective fields has helped the club to a success-laden 52-year existence.
Of late the club has stood on the opposite end of success. They are going for close to a decade tilling arid land. But there is hope among the fan base, who are watching and getting excited by the developments in the junior ranks. They see seeds of a future pregnant with promise being planted.
It is not a good story to tell for a club which has adorned itself with the garb of glory in the past.
Motaung is well aware of the tough times. As he shared with his audience in his acceptance speech. “I also want to share with you a lesson of life. There will always be humps in the process to reach your destination. When I arrived in Atlanta [United States], I struggled to come to terms with the weather and overcoming injury.
“I played as a substitute in two friendly games against Manchester City, who had just been crowned the English League champions, and scored two goals in the first game we won. I went on to score the winning goal in the second match two weeks later in the same tour.
“In the same season, I was able to score 16 goals in 15 matches. I became the top scorer in the league that season. As a result of this achievement, I was voted Rookie of the Year and gained a place in the North American Soccer League All Star team.
“So if injury and weather conditions dictated, I would not be standing before you today. Today, I look back and say to myself, it was painful but worth it.”
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