SEDIBENG.- While many ex-professional players are hired to coach their former clubs development, former Kaizer Chiefs great, Johannes ‘Disco’ Phadime has taken a different direction.

Phadime is involved in coaching boys and girls school soccer teams.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, this forgotten Chiefs legend said that he has being involved with Khanya-Lesedi School of Sports in Rathanda, Heidelberg for the past four years. He has guided the school to many school sports competition, locally, provincially and nationally.

Phadime took the school ladies soccer team to the Provincial Schools Games. He also led the school U19 boys soccer team to National Schools Games. Phadime said he develops and promotes players with some of them joining the elite football clubs such as Highlands Park.

As if he is not interested to go back to his former Kaizer Chiefs to be involved in the club’s development structure, his immediate response was, “I would love to go there because Chiefs is one of the best teams when it comes to development. The club’s development has produced great players in the past and continues to bring the talented players through their structures. It is my wish to be part of their development structure because of my passion for working with youngsters,” he said.

Phadime joined Kaizer Chiefs in 1991 when the club was the most feared outfit in the South African football. Some of the great players he played alongside include Lucas Radebe, Doctor Khumalo, Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse, Johannes ‘Trevor’ Mthimkulu, Johannes ‘Chippa’ Molatedi, Neil Tovey, Rudolph Sealed, Ntsie Maphike, Shane MacGregor, Abel Shongwe and William Shongwe to mention but few.

He was 21 years old when he joined Chiefs team from Bloemfontein Celtics. Phadime said playing alongside those great players was something he will cherish for a long time. He told Sedibeng Ster Sport that not everyone was fortunate enough to play for the great team, Chiefs, during those years.