Amakhosi welcomed former Cote d’ Ivoire and Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou to the Kaizer Chiefs Village on Wednesday. Kalou is in South Africa as a guest analyst covering the UEFA Champions League for television channel SuperSport.
The 2011/12 UEFA Champions League winner with Chelsea spoke of his admiration of the club, saying, “I am truly impressed by the facilities here and the welcome I have received. I have always admired Kaizer Chiefs because they wear the same colours as my former club, ASEC Mimosas”.
Salomon and his older brother Bonaventure, another former Ivorian international, are long time admirers of former Amakhosi midfielder, Doctor Khumalo, who came to the village to meet with Kalou.
Kalou elaborated on his admiration for 16V, “My brother used to be called Doctor Khumalo when we were young,” he explained, adding, “He always wore the number 15, at youth level, at club level with Paris Saint Germain and Feyenoord, and for Cote D’Ivoire. Doctor was our idol and we drew a lot of inspiration from him. We also watched Kaizer Chiefs teams of that era and took some learning from their style of play.”
Khumalo spoke to the elder Kalou on the phone and Bonaventure re-iterated what his brother had said, which touched the former Amakhosi maestro, who said of his interactions with the Kalou brothers, “It is humbling and an honour to hear that they achieved what they did taking inspiration from watching me and my Chiefs teammates. You never imagine that you can be the inspiration for players to achieve big things like Salomon and Bonaventure have.”
Kalou was also met by Club Chairman, Dr Kaizer Motaung who, when addressing the 2015 AFCON winner, explained, “When I was playing in the United States I could have extended my career. In 1969, I left to return to help inspire the next generations of footballers. To hear from you how Kaizer Chiefs inspired you and your brother is great motivation for me, as it was also my desire to help uplift and give hope to African footballers.”
The Chiefs chairman extended a further invitation to Kalou offering, “Whenever you are in Johannesburg reach out to Doctor. Remember, this is home for you. You are always welcome at the Chiefs village and are part of the family.”
Khumalo added that he would happily play host to Kalou in the future, pledging, “Our Chairman showed his kind heart by opening the doors to Salomon. I will be only too happy to receive him whenever he is in town.”
Kalou thanked Chiefs for hosting him and will use the experience of his trip to Naturena to help him as he continues to develop and expand his own academy in the Cote d’ Ivoire.
