Dr Doctor Khumalo recalls how Kaizer Chiefs supremo Kaizer Motaung guided him to football success

By Velile Mnyandu
1st May 2026

As Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo was honoured with an honorary doctorate at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) yesterday, one of the first people he acknowledged for having played a leading role in his life is the Chiefs chairman, Kaizer Motaung.

Khumalo was honoured with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Science (Kinesiology and Coaching Science) for his sterling work and career in football at both club and international levels. He played over 400 matches for Chiefs from 1986 until his retirement in 2003, and represented Bafana Bafana 50 times. He doesn’t forget the role Motaung Senior played in his life.

"To Dr. Kaizer Motaung, you knew me when I was 3 years old. Your mother used to feed me, not knowing that you were actually raising a ' Doctor Doctor ' now. But having said that, thank you to the Kaizer Chiefs family and Dr. Kaizer Motaung for giving me the opportunity and for guiding me," said Khumalo.

READ: Dr Doc Khumalo reflects on the deeper meaning behind the TUT honorary doctorate recognition

"For being my pillar of strength and believing in me. This is not what I anticipated, but you once said that "take care of your brand, and your brand will take care of you". So here I am. I hope I didn't disappoint, and wherever you are, you are so proud. But again, to those youngsters in the village, they always say Kaizer Chiefs is a club or team, but no, it's an institution; hence, people like us are being given these accolades."

After his retirement as a footballer, Khumalo continued as a young coach at Chiefs and won two league titles as an assistant coach.

At the height of Khumalo’s flourishing international football career, which also saw him having spells in the Argentine League and Major League Soccer (MLS) in the US with Ferro Carril Oeste and Columbus Crew, one of the people who was influential to him was the Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman Irvin Khoza. Khumalo remembers how Khoza would look after them at Bafana Bafana as they navigated the new space of international football in the mid 90’s, till his retirement.

Khumalo was a member of the 1996 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) winning team, and the first Bafana Bafana team to play at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Khumalo is arguably the most popular footballer in South Africa, from the early 90’s until today. Receiving the honorary doctorate at TUT yesterday, this was a proud moment for the SABC Sport football analyst.

Khumalo was accompanied by his family, friends, and business manager Jazzman Mahlakgane.

TUT Deputy Chair of the Council Pakiso Motau says it’s fitting that a month before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they are honouring a member of the first Bafana Bafana squad to play at the World Cup in 1998, like Khumalo.