Setlhodi On Chiefs: One Day Things Will Come Together

Banks Setlhodi lauds the Soweto Giants for their consistency

Kaizer Chiefs today celebrate 56 years since their formation, marking another milestone in the history of one of South African football’s most iconic institutions.

Founded on 7 January 1970 by current Executive Chairman Dr Kaizer Motaung Snr, alongside a group of like-minded football pioneers, Amakhosi have grown into the most recognisable and decorated club in the country. As the club commemorates its 56th anniversary, one of its founding members and former goalkeeper Joseph “Banks” Setlhodi has reflected on Chiefs’ legacy and enduring consistency.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Soccer Laduma, Setlhodi highlighted the stability and resilience that have defined Kaizer Chiefs over more than five decades, despite the challenges faced along the way.

“Yeah, hey man, it’s been if you look where we come from it’s quite a distance. A very long journey as far as where we are today. But I believe Kaizer Chiefs is one of the consistent teams as far as the years are concerned,” Setlhodi said.

“Yeah, even if look at any other team. They can go at the lowest but they still maintain their position in the main league. They’ve never been threatened to be relegated. Even if they don’t win cups, but they end up somewhere in the middle, you know. And if you look at them, they just missed top eight not more than four, five times for the whole history.

“So which shows that they are very consistent. And that’s wonderful for us, especially the founders of the team. Yeah. And what can I say again is that Chiefs is consistent. For me, I’ll say the foundation was laid and it’s proper, you know. It’s a proper foundation by us.

“So even if now today, we are only three of us that remains there. Kaizer Motaung Senior, Judge Ratha (Mokgoatlheng) and myself,” Setlhodi observed.

The longest-serving goalkeeper in Chiefs’ history also used the occasion to send a message to the current generation of players and supporters, urging them to continue protecting the club’s stature.

“My message is easy and simple. Yes. Let’s keep the team above the rest because even if we don’t win trophies. We have got to the top. We must keep that way, especially the supporters. They must keep on coming,” he said.

“One day things will come together and they’ll forget that they used to have a bad part. It’s football’s language. You look at Man City, there was a time he was nowhere. They even got relegated. You look at Man United, one time they were once relegated.

“So Liverpool, they took more than 20 years to win a trophy but now they must not get victory because that it’s a norm of the football department. You don’t do the same thing for throughout the years. Things change. Nothing is going to stay the same, especially when it comes to football,” Setlhodi told Soccer Laduma.

Setlhodi also revealed that he would be marking the club’s anniversary quietly with his family, while extending warm wishes to the broader Amakhosi community.

“I’m going to celebrate the birthday. I will be celebrating it at home. I wish the Chiefs family a very, very warm and a nice one and many, many more years to come so that the younger generations they must know about this monster of a team.

“Yeah. The other guy used to say is a mountain of Molotov to climb. Yeah, you remember Patco (Mafani), he was right when he said it’s a mount of Molotov to climb,” Setlhodi concluded.

Kaizer Chiefs were founded by Dr Motaung following a successful playing career with Orlando Pirates and a stint in the North American Soccer League (NASL) with the Atlanta Chiefs. By combining his first name with the “Chiefs” moniker from his American club, Motaung created a brand that has since become synonymous with South African football excellence.

As Amakhosi celebrate 56 years of existence, the club’s rich history, enduring support and commitment to remaining among the country’s elite continue to define its legacy.

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