After Mamelodi Sundowns broke the record for the longest unbeaten run in the DStv Premiership of 32 matches on Wednesday, coach Rulani Mokwena said their feat is special because they bettered a feat that was achieved by a “very good” Kaizer Chiefs.
The Brazilians overtook Amakhosi with a dominant 3-1 win over Stellenbosch at Lucas Moripe Stadium to finally beak a record that stood for 18 years.
Coached by the late Ted Dumitru, the class of 2005 were dominant as they went on to lift the Premiership title for the second consecutive season.
TimesLIVE Premium decided to take a walk back down memory lane to revisit the key players in coach Ted Dumitru’s Amakhosi class of 2004-05.
Rowen Fernandez
The agile Fernandez was the undisputed number one that year with his commanding presence between the poles and he is now goalkeeper-coach at Motsepe Foundation Championship side Maritzburg United.
Patrick Mabedi
Leader of men, Mabedi captained this talented side that proved to be difficult to beat and achieved considerable success during that period. The Malawian centreback, who later had spells as Chiefs’ assistant and caretaker coach, was immovable in 2003-04 and 2004-05.
Cyril Nzama
“Skhokho” was part of the leadership group. The tough-tackling right-back led by example as he marshalled the defence. Today he is coaching in the lower divisions and often turns out for the Chiefs legends team.
Nhlanhla Kubheka
Nicknamed “Rhoo” after the legendary Lucas Radebe, he was a key member of that Amakhosi defence with Fabian MacCarthy and Derrick Spencer.
Thabo Mooki
The mercurial “Tsiki-Tsiki”, then a veteran, was in many ways the heart and soul of this team with his creativity on the field and leadership off it because there were a number of emerging young players.
John Moshoeu
The legendary “Shoes”, pushing 40, was instrumental in Chiefs’ creativity and attack where he also contributed a number of crucial goals in their cause and his leadership on and off the field.
Arthur Zwane
The man nicknamed “10111" was one of the key attacking members of the team on the right wing and he has stayed with the club as head coach last season, and he is assistant to Molefi Ntseki this campaign. The Jomo Cosmos product was in some of the best form of his life under Dumitru.
Emmanuel Ngobese
Without a doubt one of the most stylish players of his generation, coach Dumitru was able to get the best out of outrageously talented but flawed “Scara”, also known as “Black Jesus”, who used to terrorise opposition defenders.
Gerald Sibeko
The technically proficient organiser played a crucial role in the heart of the midfield as the water carrier and he has stayed loyal to Amakhosi by transitioning to team management when he retired from playing.
David Rabebe
Perhaps the most misunderstood player for Chiefs during his stay with the club because of his lack of creativity, but he played his role as partner to other attackers with aplomb. When he got on a run he was hard to stop.
Collins Mbesuma
“Ntofo-Ntofo” was the star of that team simply because of the vast number of goals he scored to endear himself to the Amakhosi faithful and he is now the strikers’ coach. When he was at his best, which he was during those two title-winning seasons at Chiefs, and particularly in his record-breaking second, the Zambian with tree-trunk thighs was one of the most destructive strikers seen in South African football.
Patrick Mayo
He was one of the senior players in the team and played a crucial role on and off the field. He has since been involved in coaching at junior level. An intelligent striker.
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