Golden-era star press-ganged into playing for Buccaneers

28 August 2011 - 00:48 By KGOMOTSO MOKOENA
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TRICKY CUSTOMER: Kagiso Mogale jumps high over a lunging Durban City defender during a match in 1981
TRICKY CUSTOMER: Kagiso Mogale jumps high over a lunging Durban City defender during a match in 1981
Image: ROBERT TSHABALALA

FORMER dribbling wizard Kagiso "Zero My Hero" Mogale will be watching with mixed emotions when Mamelodi Sundowns take on Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-final this afternoon.

A Buccaneer through and through, Mogale also has a soft spot for the Brazilians, after having had a short spell with them in the twilight of his career.

He happily invited us to his house for a trip down memory lane recently. His Protea Glen home might be modest - but it radiates warmth and welcoming smiles from his family.

Many will remember him for always sticking out his tongue whenever his scholarly left foot was hypnotising opponents up and down the touchline.

But sadly, the father of two was born at the wrong time - when football was played more for entertainment.

Mogale was born in Sophiatown in 1959. He grew up in Rockville, Soweto and played for local amateur teams there and in Diepkloof. People started noticing his talent after he won a BMX bicycle during a football-juggling competition in primary school.

It was at amateur outfit Blue Whales where he charmed Pirates supporters.

Like Kaizer Motaung, he was one of the players who was given no choice and joined Pirates. Blue Whales and Naledi Young Texas were curtain raisers for a Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs derby and, after a five-star performance, the Bucs fans pounced.

"They blocked the exit and were waiting for me in the tunnel after the match. They took my address and told me to go to Pirates training the following Monday. I was young and very scared. They told my mother I was now a Pirates player. Irvin Khoza was also involved," said Mogale.

"I was with superstars such as Julius 'KK' Sono, McDonald 'Rhee' Skhosana, Patson 'Kamuzu' Banda, Oscar 'Jazzman' Dlamini, Phil 'Jones' Setshedi, Elias 'Shuffle' Mokopane, Jomo Sono and Chilliboy Koloba when I arrived. It was scary.

"Our generation would have done very well if we had had the opportunity to play in the World Cup. We had Joel 'Ace' Mnini, Zebulon 'Sputla' Nhlapo, Nelson 'Teenage' Dladla, Joel Faya, Patrick 'Ace' Ntsoelengoe, Jomo Sono, William 'Khura' Makhura, Daniel Ramarutsi, Thomas 'Who is fooling Who' Hlongwane, Professor Ngubane, Samora Khulu, Kenneth 'The Horse' Mokgojoa. These guys could dribble and score amazing goals.

"And who could forget the white players who kicked the s^*! out of us? Phil Venter was tough and kicked everything that moved - the ball or the man - sometimes both. Then there were players such as the suave Stuart Lilley, Mike Lambert, Peter Ballack, Greg Jacoby, Big John Salter, Eugene Kleynhans and Brummie de Leur. They were lekker and easy to dribble but they ran and chased you for 90 minutes," he said.

Mogale gets animated when he talks about some of the mouthwatering individual duels in the '80s.

"There was Jomo versus Ntsoelengoe, 'Zero' against 'Sputla' and 'Teenage' taking on Mnini. These duels started at school level. They need to revive school competitions because we already knew about this troublesome Teenage Dladla from Tlakula High School in Kwa-Thema, Springs.

"Money has somehow spoilt the game. My first salary was R400, including a R50 bonus for a win. But we played epic matches every weekend. It did not matter whether it was in Mangaung, Balfour Park, Sinaba Stadium, Atteridgeville or Witbank, the stadiums were always full. "

After retiring in 1990, Mogale joined an estate agency. They were building and selling houses in new townships like Protea Glen and Spruitview.

These days, he has a business selling meat, vegetables and eggs to keep the wolves at bay.

He lives with his two children and wife Nthabiseng.

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