Kaizer Chiefs Chairman Kaizer Motaung was amongst a group of 50 South African players, referees, coaches and football administrators who were awarded by the Confederation of African Football as Part of their 50-year celebrations for their contribution to the game of football in South Africa.

The glittering event was held a week ago at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in conjunction with the Government of the Western Cape, CAF president Isaa Hayatou handed out the awards of recognition to the recipients.

While the Amakhosi Chairman was unable to be at the event to collect his award it was picked up on his behalf and sent to him this past week, other Kaizer Chiefs past personnel whose contributions to the game were noted by CAF was that of former Chiefs midfield wizard Ace Ntsolengoe, who like the Chiefs chairman was amongst the group of former players who received awards.

A past Chiefs coach Eddie Lewis was one of a group of four coaches, which included Bafana Bafana’s 1996 Africa Cup of Nations winning coach Clive Barker, whose contributions to the domestic game did not go unchecked.

Lewis during his time as Chiefs coach had three different spells in charge of The Amakhosi and first coached Chiefs from 1974- 1975 and returned again four years later in 1979 and his final spell as Chiefs coach was in 1986.

Sono Thanks

Former Orlando Pirates player and owner of PSL side Jomo Cosmos Ephraim Jomo Sono was selected by the 14 players and their representatives to give a vote of thanks on their behalf, and the man known as the ‘black prince’ during his playing days was grateful for the steps taken by SAFA and CAF in recognizing the achievements and contributions of former players. Sono in his brief speech said, “it’s always great to be honored while still alive, I speak on behalf of all the players when I say that we appreciate this gesture by CAF and SAFA as it shows us that our playing days are over but we are far from forgotten”.

COMPLETE LIST OF AWARD RECIPIENTS:

PLAYERS:

Vincent Belgians


Godfrey De Kock


Darius Dhlomo


Geoffrey Gamiet


Bernard Hartze


Lionel Hamiel


Steve Mokone


Kaizer Motaung


Patrick "Ace" Ntsolengoe


Malcolm Rufus


Les Salton


Ephraim Jomo Sono


Cedrick Xulu


Bobby Chalmers

REFEREES

John Abels


Bill Stewart


Zac Mosethle

ADMINISTRATORS:

Alexander Abercrombie


Vincent Baartjies


SK Chetty


Fred Fell


Nathan Flaum


Lesole Gadinabokao


Viv Granger


Raymond Hack


Daniel Jordaan


Irvin Khoza


Wilphasius Maphaka


Norman Middleton


Solomon Morewa


Bethuel Morolo


Molefi Oliphant


Rama Reddy


Ronnie Schloss


Mahomed Sibda


Babs Sitherpersad


Dave Snaier


Clive Solomons


Leepile Taunyane


Alfred Thango


George Thabe


Colin Trader


Ashwin Trikamjee


Dan Twala


Anthony Wilcox

COACHING:

Clive Barker


Budgie


Basil Jansen


Eddie Lewis