Riot Hlatshwayo

Riot Hlatshwayo

Former Bafana Bafana midfield maestro Doctor Khumalo has encouraged matriculants not to bring babies home or get involved in drugs as a way of thanking their parents for taking them to school.

Khumalo was speaking at a motivation seminar attended by hundreds of matriculants from five high schools who had gathered with their teachers and parents at a church in Mkhuhlu, Bushbuckridge, yesterday.

Khumalo said that with just two weeks before the final examinations commenced, pupils should note there were four strengths that they should adhere to for success.

"We have mental, physical, psychological and social strengths that we can't do without, whether in education or in soccer," he said.

Khumalo told them that he was born in Dube, Soweto, where he started by playing for Kaizer Chiefs' under-15s, then the under-17s and later the under-20s.

He said he could not believe it when in 1987 he was asked to play against Orlando Pirates at Ellis Park Stadium.

"Me, from the dusty village of Dube playing against the glamorous players of Orlando Pirates? And before a crowd of about 80000 spectators? That was unbelievable. But through dedication, everything is possible," said Khumalo.

The function was sponsored by the director of the internationally renowned Hazyview-based Mthunzi Lodge, Doctor Sibuyi, a former teacher who is commonly known as DJ because his other name is July.

"I am from this community, and it fills me with pleasure to plough back so that our children could be motivated. That is why I brought you my namesake, Doctor Khumalo, to talk to you," said Sibuyi.

The five high schools that were addressed by Khumalo were Chayaza, Makhosana, Madzuma, ML Nkuna and Mkhukhumba, which are all based in Mkhuhlu.

Shadrack Lubisi, a matric pupil at Chayaza High School, thanked both Sibuyi and Khumalo for the motivation.

"On behalf of all the five schools that are gathered here, I want to thank the soccer legend and the honourable DJ Sibuyi for their efforts," said Lubisi.