SHARPEVILLE.- In an exclusive interview with Sedibeng Ster Sport at his home in Vuka Section, Sharpeville, Simon ‘Bull’ Lehoko revealed how his father wanted him to join Orlando Pirates before their arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs signed him.
Ntate Lehoko still has a sharp memory as he reflects back to his football career, as an amateur, a professional player, and a coach of the now-defunct Vaal Professionals Football Club.
He said that his father was a staunch Orlando Pirates fan and that when he heard that Kaizer Chiefs were after his signature he was furious, on the other hand, Lehoko’s mother didn’t want to hear anything about his son going to ‘Jozi’ (Johannesburg), then commonly known as Gauteng as it was rife with crime.
“My father wanted me to join Orlando Pirates, and when he heard that Kaizer Chiefs were after me (my signature), he was not happy at all. Thanks to my sisters because they supported my move to Chiefs. I was not keen to join Pirates because by then the club’s supporters were known for killing people.
“As for my mother, she wouldn’t approve of me going to Gauteng as they used to call Johannesburg by then. Pirates players would come to my place to persuade me to join the club, but I was not interested. I still remember Kaizer Motaung coming to my place looking for me and my father was busy chopping the wood at the back and he didn’t even want to talk to him.
“Mr Motaung took me to the X20 FC President, where I was playing, to pay him. Later, my father made peace with me signing for Chiefs. But his main worry was that I would be playing against his favourite team, Pirates,” said Ntate Lehoko.
