Frank ‘Jingles’ Pereira hasn’t been at Chiefs Village for a while. So, when he comes for the 50^th anniversary jersey shoot, the former Kaizer Chiefs striker, who later moved to the backline, looks around and says, “Every time I come here, I see something new. That shows why Chiefs are the biggest and most successful soccer club in South Africa.”

Pereira joined Amakhosi in late 1979, recruited by then coach Mario Tuani. He was a ripe 34-year-old at the time. The striker already had an illustrious career behind him, scoring 223 league and cup goals, before becoming a Glamour Boy for, amongst others, Cape Town City (winning the Double in 1973 and 1976), Highlands Park, Powerlines and Vaal United.

He won, for example, the Golden Boot in 1976 thanks to scoring 20 league goals. Pereira was, like Cristiano Ronaldo, born on Portuguese island of Madeira. The former Chiefs star’s birth was on 2 November 1945. Both were (and is, in Ronaldo’s case) phenomenal goalscorers.

Former Chiefs captain and defender, Ryder Mofokeng comments on Pereira, as a striker: “South Africa had some fantastic strikers in those days, like Mickey Collins, Samora Khulu and Rhee Skhosana. Pereira was another prolific goalscorer and deadly finisher, who did not miss many opportunities.”

Pereira, however, wasn’t an attacker for long at Amakhosi, being moved to a defensive position by coach Tuani in 1980. Jackie Masike had one of his rare under par performances and the Chilean coach decided to move ‘Jingles’ to the back. “I tried to explain to the coach that I had never played at that position in my life, but it didn’t help,” Pereira reflects with a broad smile on his face. “And that’s where I played for Chiefs for the rest of my stay at the club.”

However, despite now playing as a sweeper, ‘Jingles’ still managed to score just over 50 goals for Amakhosi.

Pereira was also part of that great quadruple winning side of 1981, winning the league, the Mainstay Cup, the BP Top 8 and the Champion of Champions. Other trophies won were the 1980 Champion of Champions, the 1982 Mainstay Cup, the 1982 BP Top 8 and the 1982 Champion of Champions.

The Chiefs side of 1981 is still rated as one of the best, if not the best ever Amakhosi side.

Pereira was even given an ‘African’ nickname by the Chiefs supporters: ‘Baba ka Sibongile’.

The now 74-year-old still follows, whenever possible, every broadcasted live Amakhosi match on the television. “When watching the game, it still feels special that I was part of Chiefs.”

On the 50^th anniversary of the club, ‘Jingles’ comments: “To me, Kaizer Chiefs has grown into an empire. It’s unbelievable to realise where the club comes from and where it is now. It’s simply magnificent. I am proud to have been part of Amakhosi’s journey.”