Orlando Pirates legend Jerry Sikhosana said he feels his old club does not value him. He said Kaizer Chiefs, Pirates’ biggest rivals, have shown him more respect.
The retired striker spoke on the Kasi Jam podcast. He said he often has to stand in line with ordinary fans to buy tickets to watch Pirates play.
“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 scored in the 1995 CAF Champions League final against ASEC Mimosas. That win gave Pirates their only title in the history of the competition.
He said that despite this, he has been refused VIP treatment by the club on several occasions.
Sikhosana told the podcast about what happened at last year’s Nedbank Cup final in Durban. He went to the suites with former Chiefs goalkeeper Brian Baloyi.
There he met Pirates media officer Thandi Merafe. He also saw former Pirates players Eddie Motale and Lucky Lekgwathi 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,” he said.
After he greeted the two former players, someone asked Sikhosana where his own uniform was. He replied that he was wearing his own clothes because he was no longer seen as a legend.
Sikhosana said he struggled to get tickets to watch the match from the grandstand. Then he met Chiefs marketing director Jessica Motaung on the stairs as he was leaving.
“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 said.
The former striker asked why a rival club gave him attention when his own club did not.
“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 he has now become used to queuing with fans whenever he wants to watch Pirates.
“I am no longer a legend, I take pictures with supporters, that’s what I tell them,” he said.
Source: this article is based on reporting by The South African. Image: The South African. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Entertainment desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Rirhandzu Baloyi writes about entertainment for Tzaneen Voice. Rirhandzu covers South African music, film, TV, streaming, awards and celebrity news, from amapiano and local soapies to Showmax and Netflix releases. Stories stick to what happened, who was involved and when fans can watch or listen.