Posted in Features, News on Sep 24, 2026.
With South Africa celebrating Heritage Day on 24 September every year since 1995 following the dawn of democracy in 1994, this year marks the 31st occasion on which the nation comes together to honour its traditions, ancestry, and culture. It is a day that reminds us of who we are as a people, and of the importance of preserving and passing on our heritage to future generations, and particularly remembering the importance and philosophy of Ubuntu and the old adage of Motho ke motho ka batho.
For Amakhosi, the significance of this day stretches back long before it became a public holiday. Chiefs have played memorable matches on 24 September over the decades, and it is fitting to look back at some of these encounters that have become part of the Club’s rich history.
The first game played on this date came 49 years ago in 1977, when Jan Malombo Lechaba scored the decisive goal in a 1–0 victory over African Wanderers in a Benson & Hedges Cup semifinal. The Glamour Boys would go on to defeat Orlando Pirates in the final less than two weeks later. The following year, in 1978, Amakhosi played their first league game on 24 September, recording a resounding 4–0 home win over Colchester; the goals coming from Vusi ‘Computer’ Lamola, Nelson ‘Teenage’ Dladla, a penalty converted by Ace Ntsoelengoe, and Leonard “Wagga Wagga” Likobe.
When Heritage Day was officially recognised in 1995, Chiefs marked the occasion with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in a Bob Save Super Bowl clash. Rudolph Seale and Jacob Tshisevhe found the net, while the late Thabang Lebese scored Chiefs’ third goal to seal the win. The inaugural PSL season in 1996/97 brought another historic moment, as Pollen “Trompies” Ndlanya scored four goals in a 7-2 triumph over Mpumalanga Black Aces. His performance included Chiefs’ first-ever hat-trick in the newly formed league, with Thabang Lebese, David Modise, and former Lesotho international Lekoane Lekoane adding the other goals.
As we celebrate Heritage Day in 2026, we wish all Amakhosi supporters a joyful and meaningful occasion. May we continue to embrace our cultures, our history, our traditions and our diversity, while ensuring that our young ones learn where we come from so that this vital part of our identity is never lost.
Happy Heritage Day to all. Enjoy wearing your colourful outfits that showcase our creativity as Africans, and for those travelling during the long weekend, may you do so responsibly and arrive safely at your destinations.
