Vaal mourns the passing of Kaizer Chiefs’ former great
Lehoko made a name for himself in South African football playing for one of the biggest teams in the history of football, Kaizer Chiefs, for many years.
SHARPEVILLE.- The Vaal and South African football is saddened by the passing of former soccer great, Simon ‘Bull’ Lehoko.
Sedibeng Ster Sport learned by passing of Lehoko, a Sharpeville resident, through one of the Kaizer Chiefs former players from Vaal on Wednesday .
Lehoko who started his football career with the now defunct Vaal Professionals, made a name himself in South African football playing for one of the biggest teams in the history of football Kaizer Chiefs for many years. This former Amakhosi hard tackling defender sent the better part of his life in football both as a player and coach.
After he retired he joined his former club Vaal Professionals and turned the club into a force to be reckoned with in South African football. Chiefs chairman, Kaizer Motaung, said that he was saddened by the passing of Lehoko who served his club with distinction as a player in the70s. Motaung said that Lehoko was not just a player, but a good friend to his off the field, sharing some good memories.
“Lehoko was one of the outstanding players to have played for this club from Vaal. He was very generous person and we became good friends off the field. I wanted him to stay at the club after he told me he was retiring from playing football. I begged him to stay at the club but he told me he was going back to Vaal to coach Vaal Professionals the club that he joined Chiefs from. He contributed a lot in South African football, both as a player and coach . As Kaizer Chiefs we will always cherish the time he spent here at the club. He was one of the best defenders to have played for this club”, said Motaung.
Lehoko turned Vaal Professionals into a feared outfit in South African football.
He made history when he led the club to win their first ever trophy when they beat Free States Stars 1-0 in the BoB-Save Super Bowl Cup at the FNB Stadium in 1994, and this was a great achievement for the Vaal community.
Sedibeng Ster Sport ran a series of articles about Lehoko both as a player and coach.
- At the time of going to print Sedibeng Ster was still waiting for Lehoko’s funeral arrangements from the family.
