SHARPEVILLE.- Sedibeng Ster veteran sports journalist, Zacharia Nale believes there is a need for Simon “Bull” Lehoko’s documentary for the role he played in South African football, both as player and coach.
This idea for the documentary came after Nale visited this former Kaizer Chiefs and Vaal Professional great at his place in Vuka, Sharpeville over the Easter Holidays. The documentary will be looking at the life of this former Vaal Professional, otherwise known as “Setla” mentor, and his success as a player, coach/administrator, and father.
The visit followed Lehoko’s request to see Nale to share some untold fond memories of his, during his playing days and later as a Vaal Pros coach including their success, winning then Bob Save SuperBlow Cup champions where they beat Qwaqwa Stars 1-0 courtesy of Robison “Koi Yoko” Seakamela at FNB Stadium in 1994.
However, the documentary will mainly focus on his challenges which resulted in the relegation of Vaal Professionals from top-flight football, the disappearance of Vaal Pros in South African football as a result of an ownership dispute which involved the late Basil Mohalane, Sello Lethale, and Lehoko himself.
This ownership dispute is well documented in MooiVaal Media newspaper’s Vaal Weekly and Vaal Vision now known as Sedibeng Ster.
Vaal Professional supporters which were made up of mainly the Sharpeville community called George Thabe and Rev Musa to be mediators in an attempt to resolve this much publicist ownership dispute which saw the downfall of the Vaal Monsters as the club was affectionately known in the South African football. The meeting to introduce Thabe and Rev Musa took place at Iscor Club now known as Quest in Vanderbijlpark.
The documentary will also be looking at some frustrations and battles that Lehoko had to face in search of justice after he felt he was mistreated by certain football administrators. The formation of Vaal Professional will be the main focus of how the club became a force to be reckoned with in South African football.
Amongst other things, the documentary will also look at what happened after Orlando Pirates and Vaal Pros’ disciplinary hearing with Pirates claiming that Vaal Pros didn’t have proper documents. The arbitration awarded Pirates three points and they went on to be crowned the CAF champions. Lehoko still remembers like yesterday what happened, and how his club was robbed.
It was a nightmare for many teams to come and play against Vaal Professionals either at Zamdela or Kwa-Masiza Stadium in Sebokeng during those days. For example, teams like Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns know exactly what was like to play Vaal Monsters in their own backyard.
The documentary will also be looking at Lehoko’s career as a Kaizer Chiefs player and how an injury forced him to retire from top-flight football. This was despite the fact that Kaizer Motaung tried to persuade him to stay at the club but Lehoko made it clear that he had an assignment waiting for him back home which led to the formation of Vaal Professional from an amateur team X-20 FC.
