I ARRIVED at Kaizer Chiefs in late 1990 but only started playing in 1991. Thabang Lebese arrived two years later in 1993 and we clicked.
Some might say he was cocky, but I say it was confidence.
At Chiefs we had two dressing rooms. One was for senior players and the other one was for young guys who had only just arrived. So confident he was of his ability that he used the change room reserved for the senior guys!
He would always tell us: "I'm from Orlando and I'm also a good player."
It was not a case of someone shooting his mouth off and not being able to back it up. He was indeed a good player. He had a lot of pace and had a brilliant football brain on his shoulders.
Off the field, he was a very jolly guy who enjoyed the presence of his teammates. There truly was never a dull moment when he was around. The man was full of life but also hated losing. He would go for days without speaking to you if he found himself in a good position and you didn't pass him the ball.
He was always pushing himself and opponents would always try to upset him by saying he would not score. Unfortunately for them, that would put a fire in him and he would always try to score and prove to them that he was a good player.
Lebese also hated sitting around not playing and coach (Paul) Dolezar would slap him with fines and also suspend him, but being the person he was, he would always find the funny part in that as well.
I remember being put on a strict diet by coach Jeff Butler at Chiefs, Lebese called and asked me to meet him at a restaurant. He told me to eat whatever I wanted. He said Butler and the management could not change me and as long as he was benefitting from my passes, he didn't have a problem.
After he left Chiefs, he went to Ria Stars where he was made captain. I was then asked to come over there for trials, and he stood up to the management and asked them why I had to undergo trials. Unfortunately, he soon left for Pirates and my move there didn't materialise.
I will miss his sense of humour and the way he would always argue with me about who was the best dresser between us and also who was the better player.
He was also not too proud to beg, if he needed help, he asked for it.
To his family, he has gone to a good place and the likes of the late Ernest "Botsotso" Makhanya and Emmanuel "Scara" Ngobese will now feel his presence as he will insist being in the starting 11.
Thank you to his mother Meisie for giving us such a wonderful person and great footballer.
Tribute to a star
I ARRIVED at Kaizer Chiefs in late 1990 but only started playing in 1991. Thabang Lebese arrived two years later in 1993 and we clicked.
Some might say he was cocky, but I say it was confidence.
At Chiefs we had two dressing rooms. One was for senior players and the other one was for young guys who had only just arrived. So confident he was of his ability that he used the change room reserved for the senior guys!
He would always tell us: "I'm from Orlando and I'm also a good player."
It was not a case of someone shooting his mouth off and not being able to back it up. He was indeed a good player. He had a lot of pace and had a brilliant football brain on his shoulders.
Off the field, he was a very jolly guy who enjoyed the presence of his teammates. There truly was never a dull moment when he was around. The man was full of life but also hated losing. He would go for days without speaking to you if he found himself in a good position and you didn't pass him the ball.
He was always pushing himself and opponents would always try to upset him by saying he would not score. Unfortunately for them, that would put a fire in him and he would always try to score and prove to them that he was a good player.
Lebese also hated sitting around not playing and coach (Paul) Dolezar would slap him with fines and also suspend him, but being the person he was, he would always find the funny part in that as well.
I remember being put on a strict diet by coach Jeff Butler at Chiefs, Lebese called and asked me to meet him at a restaurant. He told me to eat whatever I wanted. He said Butler and the management could not change me and as long as he was benefitting from my passes, he didn't have a problem.
After he left Chiefs, he went to Ria Stars where he was made captain. I was then asked to come over there for trials, and he stood up to the management and asked them why I had to undergo trials. Unfortunately, he soon left for Pirates and my move there didn't materialise.
I will miss his sense of humour and the way he would always argue with me about who was the best dresser between us and also who was the better player.
He was also not too proud to beg, if he needed help, he asked for it.
To his family, he has gone to a good place and the likes of the late Ernest "Botsotso" Makhanya and Emmanuel "Scara" Ngobese will now feel his presence as he will insist being in the starting 11.
Thank you to his mother Meisie for giving us such a wonderful person and great footballer.
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