South African football giants Kaizer Chiefs are celebrating their 51st birthday today, Thursday, 7 January 2021.
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Chiefs were founded on this day in 1970, shortly after the return of Kaizer “Chincha Guluva” Motaung from the United States where he played as a striker for the Atlanta Chiefs in the North American Soccer League (NASL).
He combined his own first name with the Atlanta Chiefs to create the name Kaizer Chiefs.
CHIEFS’ NICKNAMES ARE AMAKHOSI AND GLAMOUR BOYS
Several other people played key roles in the formation and growth of Kaizer Chiefs, including the late Gilbert Sekgabi, Clarence Mlokoti, China Ngema, Ewert “The Lip” Nene and Johannes ‘Ryder’ Mofokeng.
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The team is nicknamed Amakhosi which means “Lords” or “Chiefs” in Zulu, and the Phefeni Glamour Boys.
Chiefs have won 12 league titles (four in the PSL era) and over 50 club trophies. Those four PSL titles came in 2003/04, 2004/05, 2012/13 and 2014/15.
KAIZER CHIEFS HAVE HAD SEVERAL FAMOUS PLAYERS
Among their many domestic cup titles, Chiefs are 15-time winners of the MTN 8, 13-time winners of the Telkom Knockout and 13-time Nedbank Cup champions.
Famous players who donned the black and gold jersey in the past include, among others, Neil Tovey, Lucas Radebe, Patrick Ntsoelengoe, Gary Bailey, John “Shoes” Moshoeu, Shaun Bartlett, Steve Komphela, Siyabonga Nomvete, and Doctor Khumalo.
Chiefs are the most supported club in Sub-Saharan Africa with over two million Twitter followers and nearly 3.3 million followers on Facebook.
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Current Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune expressed his wishes as well.
