Chiefs’ Motaung hails ‘unbelievable’ Pele

Amakhosi chairman Kaizer Motaung has mourned the passing of Brazilian legend Pele, adding that the skills of the greatest players of today are all modelled on what he did.

WATCH: Farewell to the king – Brazil prepares to say goodbye to Pele

Motaung had the chance to play against Pele in 1968, when he took the field for US outfit Atlanta Chiefs against Brazilian side Santos, where Pele was the star player, and had already won two Fifa World Cups with Brazil (he was to add another two years later in Mexico.

Pele scored a hat-trick as Santos beat Chiefs 6-2, while Motaung grabbed a consolation for his side.

“The occasion itself was unbelievable,” recalled Motaung, talking to Kaizer Chiefs media.

“We knew we are not only playing Santos but also the greatest of all players during my lifetime. They beat us 6-2 and he scored about three goals, although I was happy I also scored one!

“He was an unbelievable character, on and off the field. You could not come across a more humble person, you would not have believed he was a top athlete across the world,” added Motaung.

Pele did it first

“What Pele leaves in this world is that regardless of your background or you upbringing, opportunities are there for all of us to aspire to and achieve. In simple terms if you put your heart and mind into what you want, you will succeed.

“When you look at modern football and all the artists and stars we have today, Ronaldo or Messi or Mbappe or anyone … whatever they do, Pele did first, whether it is a bicycle kick or anything, he did it first, every technique that has come about, all the types of goals scored today, Pele did them first.”