A number of players from different generations can attest to Teko Modise’s claim that it is close to impossible to say no once you are summoned by Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza.
Otherwise known as The Iron Duke, Khoza’s trademark style of luring the finest talent to Pirates in one-on-one interactions was the fabric softener used to convince a home-seeking Modise that the Buccaneers would be his best destination.
Under Gavin Hunt at SuperSport United, Modise was – by his own admission – “chased out” of the club after being told his position was clustered. Hunt was willing to listen to any offers for the Hollywoodbets Brand Ambassador.
Before he joined SuperSport following the extinction of Ria Stars in 2002 – all 16 Premier Soccer League teams lined up in front of ‘The General’, who gave them an ear, but it was Pitso Mosimane who made the best case and Modise was a Spartan.
It did not take too long before Modise grabbed attention with outstanding performance. It was always clear he was destined for a more premium club.
"I didn't choose to go to Pirates. You don't choose to go Pirates, you get called, and when you get called, you, can't say no - I was summoned to Pirates... 'Don't go to training tomorrow, come to Parktown, sign here'. I did not know how much I was going to earn."
“I got the call from my manager (Jazzman Mahlakgane) on a Monday saying please come to Parktown, I get there and realised it was Pirates offices and met the chairman Dr Irvin Khoza.
“He sold me the story of why Orlando Pirates is Orlando Pirates, why and it is important to play for Pirates. It was an easy decision because I was not there to say no – it was an opportunity for me to play for a big team,” Modise said on Izinja zeGame.
‘Dona’ went on to become a mega star for the Buccaneers, winning two back-to-back PSL Footballer of the Season awards, the MTN8 and engraved his name as an eternal fan favourite. If you ask him, he may tell you he is more of a Mamelodi Sundowns legend than that of Pirates.
Modise’s allegiance to Masandawana is justified with the two league titles, two domestic cup, the 2016 Caf Champions League paired with the 2017 Caf Super Cup. His career at national level saw him become the poster-boy in the 2010 Fifa World Cup and one the best performers in his generation with over 60 caps.
However, Dona’s tale may have been different had he joined his childhood club, the bitter arch rivals of the Buccaneers.
“I could have played for Chiefs a little bit earlier but I don’t know what happened. I think Bobby Motaung can tell the story a little better. He called me after the first season of playing in Mvela (National First Division) and said ‘I want you to come play for Chiefs’.
“I said I am ready whenever you are. And I waited for five, six years and it he never came through. That’s why I started disliking Chiefs.
“It is like you want this girl, you are speaking to this girl, you go out on a date with this girl, and she’s like ‘I’m not too sure’, then she gets someone else, then I said okay, I will show you that I was the better person.
“I knew that the No.10 jersey was waiting for me at Chiefs. I knew I was going to do better things. Imagine my performance at Pirates and put it at Chiefs.
“The first team that I got accustomed to and introduced to as a kid was Chiefs, I knew everything about Chiefs. My idol (Doctor Khumalo) played for Chiefs.
“I did not care how much money I was going to get, I wanted to play for Chiefs. But now that I was not given the opportunity to play for Chiefs – and there was no point where I was expensive to buy, no.
“SuperSport were getting rid of me and I had the opportunity to play for Sundowns, but Pirates came through first.
“If Chiefs came through the same period as Pirates, I was going to go to Chiefs. But I went to Pirates because of the love he gave me the first time I saw him.”
