Orlando Pirates great Jerry Sikhosana says he has felt overlooked by the club despite scoring the goal that secured their only CAF Champions League title.
The former striker scored in the 1995 CAF Champions League final against ASEC Mimosas, helping Orlando Pirates lift the trophy. However, he says the club has failed to recognise his contribution, including by denying him VIP treatment on several occasions.
Speaking on the Kasi Jam podcast, Sikhosana said he has sometimes had to queue with ordinary supporters to buy tickets to watch Orlando Pirates.
“You look at me walking, you look at the Pirates jersey, it has a star. The first impression that comes is Jerry Sikhosana, he gave us the star. But I will go to the ground, fold my arms and queue with the supporters to buy tickets,” he said.
Sikhosana also described an incident at last year’s Nedbank Cup final in Durban, when he received more attention from Kaizer Chiefs than from his former club.
He was with former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brian Baloyi when they went to the suites. There, Sikhosana saw Thandi Merafe, a Bucs media officer, along with former Orlando Pirates players Eddie Motale and Lucky Lekgwathi, who were wearing the club’s new tracksuits for the final.
“You can see that there are the two legends picked to represent the club for that game,” Sikhosana said.
After greeting Motale and Lekgwathi, Sikhosana was asked where his own uniform was. He replied that he appeared no longer to be considered a legend because he was wearing his own clothes.
He then explained that he had struggled to obtain a ticket to watch the match from the grandstand before meeting Kaizer Chiefs marketing director Jessica Motaung.
“As I was leaving, on the stairs, I bumped into Jessica Motaung. She was told that Jerry was asking for tickets. She turned and asked how I was and said, ‘Don’t worry, we know where you are, you can be black on the outside, but we know how you are inside. That’s stress’,” Sikhosana recalled.
The experience left Sikhosana questioning why he was shown consideration by Orlando Pirates’ fiercest rivals while feeling ignored by the club where he made his name.
“A person from Chiefs gave me attention, whereas I played for Pirates and the same team ignored me. I got special treatment from a rival, the same team I used to destroy. Where are the people I served during the derby?” he asked.
Sikhosana said queuing alongside supporters has now become a familiar part of attending Orlando Pirates matches.
“I am no longer a legend, I take pictures with supporters, that’s what I tell them,” he added.
