Zinhle Mapumulo

Zinhle Mapumulo

Teko Modise's search for his long-lost father took another twist yesterday when a man claiming to have raised him came forward.

Kenneth Ngobeni of Diepkloof Zone 6, Soweto, told Sowetan yesterday that while he is not against Modise finding his father, he was very disappointed that he was not being acknowledged for the part he played in the Orlando Pirates midfielder's life.

Last week Modise told Sowetan he was looking for his father who had left when he was young. But he later denied the story on Radio 702 (See comment).

Yesterday, Ngobeni said Modise came into his life in 1992 as a 10-year-old boy when he joined the amateur team Diepkloof Coventry, which he coached.

He said Modise and his mother had been kicked out by his stepfather and the youngster arrived at his house.

"The next thing Modise shows up at my doorstep saying that he had come to live with me as his mother was gone." Ngobeni said.

"Modise said his stepfather had kicked them out and his mother told him to come to me.

" I took him in and for years his mother never called or visited. I was the one who made sure he had food to eat and went to school, yet today he has forgotten about me.

"His mother later wrote me a letter to borrow R40 to buy a case of cool drinks so that she could sell them to make ends meet. I gave it to her and that was the last I heard from her."

Modise admitted to Sowetanyesterday that he was raised by Ngobeni from the age of 10 and that he groomed him into a seasoned soccer player.

But he refused to comment further on his family or why he had to be raised by Ngobeni.

"I'm sorry, I can't talk about my family. The article in Sowetan last week, claiming that I was looking for my long-lost father, got me into a lot of trouble."

When asked what trouble, he refused to give the details.