Pirates' passionate 'Terrible Twins' a marvel to watch

THE Orlando Pirates of today have "Militant Midgets" Oupa Manyisa and Andile Jali mesmerising their opponents.

Back in the early 1980s, the Bucs had "Terrible Twins" James "Killer" Mkhwanazi and Donald "Ace" Khuse dismantling foes like a junkie with a stolen purse.

"We were unstoppable," says Mkhwanazi. "Just like Manyisa and Jali, we were short and skilful. I am not sure how many goals we created and scored between us, but it was a lot."

Were they better than Manyisa and Jali?

"We were attack-minded and Jali is more defensive. Those who saw us play can do the comparison. All I can say is we were a marvel to watch and killed a lot of teams."

Now a shop packer in Mayfair, father-of-two Mkhwanazi lives in a humble four-roomed house in Braamfischerville, Soweto, with wife Bella.

"My house is where I retreat to whenever something bothers me. I lock myself in and relax on the couch when I don't want to be around people or when I don't want to be bothered.

"Some of my generation do not have homes of their own. It's sad when former football stars are still living with their parents.

"Everyone has himself to blame, but we played in the wrong era. There was no money, no international exposure like today.

''But we played with passion and had so much fun. The stadium were always full and there were interesting individual battles."

The waltzing midfielder was born in Meadowlands in 1962. His passion was athletics until his primary schoolteacher, Ariel "Pro" Kgongoane, lured him into football. "I was a good sprinter and did not like soccer. Kgongoane hauled me into the soccer side because you could not argue with an elder or even worse, a schoolteacher."

But Mkhwanazi was soon scoring lots of goals. While at Kelekitso High School he met Marks Maponyane, Aubrey "The Great" Makgopela, Mandla "Metroblitz" Sithole and Rabbie Moripe. They all become big-name players in the '80s and early '90s.

Mkhwanazi got his big break when Kelekitso played Orlando High School at Orlando Stadium. "Not everybody played there. Only stars played at the ground and I was very scared. I scored a hat trick and we beat them 3-2.

"Jomo Sono was impressed and he recruited me for Pirates. At the same time, Kaizer Chiefs were scouting me, but Eliakim "Pro" Khumalo, the Chiefs assistant coach, told me I was very small.

"He later swallowed his words when I emerged at Pirates."

Mkhwanazi spent three successful seasons at Pirates alongside dribbling wizards such as Amos "Heel Extension" Mkhari, Kagiso "Zero My Hero" Mogale, Webster "City Late" Lichaba and Oscar "Jazzman" Dlamini, and hard-tacklers Johannes "Yster" Khomane, BigBoy Kholoane and goalkeeper Patson "Sparks" Banda.

"South Africa had talented players at that time. We did not need to be coached. The coach would tell us to go and do our jobs. We reached the final of the Mainstay Cup without a coach," he says.

He left Pirates for Bloemfontein Celtic with whom he won the Mainstay Cup in 1985. He rounded off his career at Giant Blackpool, where he enthralled the masses with partners in crime, Jury Bantwana, John "Shoes" Moshoeu and Geelboy "Gomma Gomma" Masango.

"I decided to quit in 1990 because there was no progress anymore. There was no money and football was no longer fulfilling. Even today legends are neglected.

''We can contribute in school football development. That's where players were discovered back in the day."