Vaal Legends on a mission to reunite former professional players

SEDIBENG.- Some of the big names that form part of this Vaal Legends include former Bafana Bafana Captain Aaron Mokoena, Augustine ‘Mthakathi’ Makalakalane, Lucky Mhlathi, Avril ‘Chawe’ Phali, Phiri Tsotetsi, Solomon Mathe, Steve ‘Chippa’ Lekoelea, Josias ‘Bingo’ Nnete, Joseph, ‘China’ Masondo and Solly Nketle to mention but few. The Vaal Legends group was formed with the main purpose to bring together all the ex-semi and professional players under one umbrella to play friendly matches against other former football greats from other regions and provinces.

They use this platform to reflect back to the days when they were still playing in  topflight football. Despite their differences they use this platform to go down memory lane to reflect back during their playing days. South Africa football history will never be written without mentioning the names of the above ex professional players especially Aaron Mokoena, Augustine Makalakalane and Steve Lekoelea who were household names in South African football. Mokoena and Makalakalane had a successful football career abroad from the dusty dusty streets of Sharpeville and Boipatong respectively while Lekoelea was part of SA U/23 National team that stunned Brazil in the Olympics Games in 2000.

This Vaal Legends have already played a series of friendly games against their former professional counterparts. The Vaal Legends have also been invited to participate in the Jazz By The River program. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Makalakalane who is a senior former great in this group said that Vaal Legends is not only about playing matches but to empower former professional players to be a qualified coaches and administrators.

Vaal Legends believe that there is a need for a Hall Of Fame to acknowledge the men and women who have hoisted the Vaal flag high in the national and international stages. No doubt, there is a serious need for such initiative to take place in Sedibeng taking into consideration the rich history of this region in sports especially football and boxing. At one stage former Emfuleni Local Municipality worker Prof Sebeela was working on this initiative to establish the Vaal Hall of Fame.

“Look, we want to use this platform to empower the former soccer players to have coaching qualifications. But again, not all of them will be coaches. We also want some of them to be football administrators because our football needs people who played and understand this sport. I’m happy because here in the group we have people who are armed with knowledge to take this Vaal Legends group forward,” said Makalakalane.