A super salute to The Chief
Brad Morgan
14 June 2005
Lucas Radebe's testimonial game in Durban on the weekend proved to be a big success as the former Bafana Bafana captain continued to rake in the rands for a number of charities he has nominated to help in his benefit year.
Last Thursday, ahead of Saturday's showpiece match between an SA Invitation Eleven and the a Lucas Radebe All Stars line-up, R100 000 was raised at a dinner at Durban's Royal Hotel from the sale of five pieces of Lucas Radebe artwork and memorabilia.
Five surprise guests spoke about Radebe and his career, starting with the man from whom "The Chief" took over as Bafana Bafana skipper, Neil Tovey. Then followed Philemon "Chippa" Masinga, who played with Radebe at Leeds.
African Cup of Nations title winning coach Clive Barker was up next, followed by another former Bafana Bafana coach, Jomo Sono. SA great Doctor Khumalo completed the line-up.
A capacity crowd
On Saturday, in front of a
capacity crowd, and playing at the Kings Park Soccer Stadium instead of the former Kings Park Rugby Stadium (now the Absa Stadium), the Invitation Eleven, loaded with current Bafana stars, took on the All Stars, who were packed with players from the 1996 African Cup of Nations winning team.
"I chose the soccer stadium because it holds many good memories for me. It's where I started," said Radebe.
Early on there was caution from the Invitation Eleven, no doubt because some of the players had a thing or two to prove to national team coach Stuart Baxter, who was using the contest to gauge the form and fitness of some of his players.
The All Stars took advantage of their opposition's careful approach to do the early attacking, but neither team really threatened and at halftime the score remained goalless at nil-nil.
A good move
After the break things hotted up. Radebe made the switch from the All Stars to the Invitation side and it
ultimately proved to be a good move.
With seven minutes of the half played, Benson Mhlangu put the Invitation team ahead with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area.
Seven minutes later Zimbabwean international Benjamin Mwaruwari, who plies his trade for French Ligue 1 team Auxerre, leveled for the All Stars after combining well with John "Shoes" Mosheau and Thabo Mooki.
With only 10 minutes left to play, the Invitation side again nosed in front as Bafana Bafana striker Katlego Mphela nodded home. Almost immediately, Mwaruwari replied for the All Stars to make it 2-2.
Mphela, though, scored a fine winner in the final five minutes, striking a cracking shot to give the Invitation Eleven a 3-2 victory.
Thus the curtain was brought down on the career of arguably South Africa's favourite football son.
'A lot of memories'
"It's a sad day for me but at the same time, it feels great as this game has brought back a lot
of memories," the Chief told the adoring crowd afterwards.
As always, he struggles a little to understand why he is so loved in South Africa and in Leeds. "I think it's from all the charity work I do, the coaching courses for kids, visiting people in hospital," Radebe says.
"Maybe it means a lot to those people."
Radebe heads back to Leeds next to be with his wife, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, and to assist manager Kevin Blackwell at Leeds United as a defensive coach.
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