Kaizer Chiefs are mourning the passing of one of their most talented and popular former players, Peter ‘Pele’ Mokotedi.
Kaizer Chiefs are mourning the passing of one of their most talented and popular former players, Peter ‘Pele’ Mokotedi.
Kaizer Chiefs are mourning the passing of one of their most talented and popular former players, Peter ‘Pele’ Mokotedi, who thrilled the Amakhosi faithful with his mesmerising skills between 1980 and 1983.
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Mokotedi caught the attention of professional scouts while playing for Naughty Boys FC in Mabopane township, north of Pretoria.
Nightmare for defenders
It was during a friendly match between a professional side, Witbank Black Aces (Amazayoni) and amateur side, Naughty Boys at Bana grounds in Mabopane, that Mokotedi shone as always, despite Naughty Boys losing 8-1.
Naughty Boys’ solitary second half goal was scored by Aces captain Willie Mahlangu, who switched sides with an opponent towards the end of the match.
After that game, Mokotedi was recruited to Aces, where he became a nightmare for defenders in the professional ranks and soon caught the attention of the astute Kaizer Chiefs scouts, who urged the club to sign him, which they did in 1980.
His dribbling wizardry, pace and a sharp eye for goal, earned him a nickname Fuduwa (Stir) by the Amakhosi fans.
At his best, he was stirring defenders throughout the league in the gold and black Amakhosi jersey, alongside Kaizer Chiefs greats like the maestro, Pule ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe, Nelson ‘Teenage’ Dladla and Jan ‘Festival Malombo’ Lechaba, among others.
Fuduwa created and scored memorable goals for the Phefeni Glamour Boys, the most memorable of which came during a 5-5 draw in the first-leg of the 1980 Mainstay Cup semi-final encounter against Moroka Swallows.
In that humdinger of a match, Fuduwa scored twice and ‘Mabeka Phansi’ Ntsoelengoe netted a hat-trick.
This game inspired the movie, “Way of Life” Mainstay Cup.
Peter ‘Fuduwa’ Mokotedi along with former Kaizer Chiefs defender Dick Skipper Molewa were honoured by the Mabopane Local Football Association and the Mabopane Network Forum in 2014, with the blessing of Kaizer Chiefs chairman, Dr. Kaizer Motaung.
At the ceremony held at Morula Sun, Fuduwa was presented with a framed No 8 Jersey, signed by the players and management of Kaizer Chiefs Football Club.
Fuduwa, Pele, Shalela, Professor Ghapwepwe Mokotedi, folk hero, Legends Never Die.
