Mcelwa Nchabeleng

Mcelwa Nchabeleng

Orlando Pirates' midfield genius Teko Modise has made a passionate plea to anybody who can help him trace his father whom he last saw when he was 10 years old.

Modise revealed this exclusively to Sowetan in an emotional interview yesterday.

His father's name is Steve Sekgaila, but the Bucs and Bafana Bafana linkman uses his mother's maiden name.

Modise said he wished that his father would join him for a family luncheon he is organising at his Midrand townhouse on Christmas day.

This will be part of his 25th birthday celebrations.

Modise, who was born in Meadowlands in Soweto on December 22, will not be able to celebrate his birthday as he will be in camp preparing for Bucs' match against AmaZulu in Durban the following day.

Said Modise yesterday: "I don't know where he is. My mother and siblings are also equally clueless. I want to meet him and embrace him. I will be the happiest person if I can see him again and find out what he is doing in life.

"Though his disappearance is not affecting me as a player, I think there is something missing in my life because of the situation.

"My father was a staunch Kaizer Chiefs' supporter. He always took me to the stadium whenever his favourite team played. He tried to influence me to be a Chiefs' supporter while I was growing up.

"He also encouraged me to play football. I will not forget that now that I'm a professional player. I'm a Buccaneer today. I would have loved to see his reaction after I joined Pirates."

Modise also hopes to talk to his father about his inclusion in the Bafana squad that leaves for Ghana next month to take part in the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

The soccer maestro is the last-born in a family of three. He has a brother David, 34, and a sister Kgomotso, 30.

Though he has only scored once - a spectacular free-kick - for Bucs, he is one of the players credited with the team's impressive brand of football. The Buccaneers are currently third on the Absa Premier Soccer League table.