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Kaizer Chiefs: Wearing The Weight

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Kaizer Motaung Jnr of Chiefs shoots at goal ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Who has worn the no. 7 jersey at Kaizer Chiefs in the past two decades? There have been some hits, but also many misses, writes Nick Said.

Kaizer Chiefs signing Ranga Chivaviro has been wearing the No.7 jersey, which has been worn by several top stars down the years but is something of a cursed number too.

It is not the first time in the striker’s career he has taken seven, having worn it at lowly second-tier TS Sporting in the past.

But who are the others to have worn the number at Kaizer Chiefs in the last 20 years?

KAIZER MOTAUNG JNR

Kaizer Motaung Jnr of Kaizer Chiefs challenged by Joseph Musonda of Golden Arrows during the Absa Premiership 2012/13 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows on the 06 November at Peter Mokaba Stadium
©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

The boss’ son and current sporting director of the club, Motaung Jnr wore the No.7 with mixed results, perhaps being given a little more leeway than most players when things were not going well. He was in the team for 11 years scoring 34 goals in 80 starts, which sounds decent but there were many substitute appearances in that time. If you break it down over the campaigns that is a little over three goals per season. Not great for a striker. He retired after the 2013/14 season.

KATLEGO MPHELA

Katlego Mphela of South Africa subtituted during the international friendly between South Africa and Algeria at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa on January 12 2013©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Mphela initially wore the No.37 at Chiefs following his move from Mamelodi Sundowns in 2013/14, but when Motaung retired, the Bafana Bafana striker took over the No.7. He would wear it for just one season though before leaving Naturena. It is fair to say things did not work out for him at the club, he scored six goals in eight starts (and 21 appearances in all) over 18 months. Perhaps the move just came a bit late in his career, even though he was in his 20s.

WILLIAM TWALA

William Twala of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership match between Bidvest Wits and Kaizer Chiefs on 09 February 2016 at Bidvest Stadium Pic Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix

Twala was originally No.29 at Chiefs but switched to seven for two seasons when Mphela left. He was also a player used mostly off the bench in his time at the club, scoring three goals in 19 starts (and 50 appearances) before he departed for Maritzburg United in the 2017/18 season.

RYAN MOON

Ryan Moon of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership 2016/17 match between Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban South Africa on 21 December 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Young striker Moon was No.29 when he came through the ranks at Naturena but took the No.7 after Twala departed. He also only wore the number for a single season before he moved on to Stellenbosch FC. He scored six goals in 17 starts (and 43 appearances) for Chiefs and is now at Lamontville Golden Arrows after a spell at Varberg in Sweden.

LAZAROUS KAMBOLE

Lazarous Kambole of Kaizer Chiefs during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 06 April 2021 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Zambian Kambole was a disaster at Chiefs in his three seasons after joining from ZESCO United in 2019. He arrived with some fanfare but netted only two goals in 21 starts (and 46 appearances). He left at the end of 2021/22 and moved to Young Africans and later returned to ZESCO in Zambia.