Doc Khumalo recalls how his spy-two killed one Kaizer Chiefs fan
South African football icon Doctor Khumalo has recalled how his spy-two in the Mandela Cup final caused the death of one Kaizer Chiefs fan.
South African football icon Doctor Khumalo has recalled how his spy-two in the Mandela Cup final caused the death of one Kaizer Chiefs fan.
The year was 2001, and Chiefs were at home against Angolan side Inter Clube Luanda – Patrick Mabedi scored the winner from the penalty spot on the day.
And soon after the goal, Khumalo, who was a player/coach at the time, was introduced by then coach Muhsin Ertugral.
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Khumalo’s first touch was a spy-two to a Luanda player, and according to the Amakhosi legend, one fan collapsed out in the stands while celebrating witnessing that piece of skill.
Khumalo would be informed of the said fan’s death the following day from the Chiefs management, and the entire team had to go and visit the fan’s family in the Vaal.
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HOW DOCTOR KHUMALO’S SPY-TWO KILLED ONE KAIZER CHIEFS FAN IN 2001
“When we played that Mandela Cup, we had only 16 players but when we played in the final, we were only 14 players, and I was a player/coach,” said Khumalo on SABC Sport TV.
“Mabedi scored the goal, and we were playing a team from Angola… the penalty, and that sealed it. So, Muhsin then said, ‘Doc, just go in there and do your thing,” he narrated.
“So, I went on, given the opportunity… first touch, spy-two… under the legs, but the unfortunate part is that one of the fans died because of the spy-two.
“He was celebrating and then he collapsed. So, I got a call the following day from the office to say the friends are saying, because of that spy-two, that person died.
“So, we had to go to the Vaal, to the bereaving family,” added Khumalo.
KHUMALO A LEGEND OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL
Khumalo is definitely a legend of African football in his right having won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Bafana Bafana and the 2001 Mandela Cup with Chiefs.
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To put context to it, the Mandela Cup merged with the CAF Cup in 2004, and it became what is today known as the CAF Concederation Cup.
And Khumalo has CAF medals for both club and country – something very few South African-born players achieved in their football careers.