Legendary Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Gary Bailey has insisted that Amakhosi’s quadruple winning side of 1989 is the “best team in the history of South African club football”.
Several members of the team, including among them Mark Tovey, William ‘Cool Cat’ Shongwe, Mike ‘Sporo’ Mangena, Gardner Seale, Shane Macgregor, Albert Bwalya and Bailey, recently met for a special reunion.
The latter praised former Chiefs striker Shane Macgregor before pointing out how strong the club’s class of 1989 was.
“Shane’s contributions were immense,” Bailey told the club’s media team.
“He showed what a strong team we had all around, with four great attackers, a strong midfield with Doctor Khumalo, a solid defence and me and William Shongwe rotating in goal.
“I think this was the best team in the history of South African club football.”
Chiefs Marketing Director, Jessica Motaung highlighted it is important to have these meetings after the group gathered at the Nelson Mandela Foundation for an intimate tour of former President Nelson Mandela’s private archives and office, before proceeding to Madiba’s Houghton residence.
“These engagements with our legends are very crucial for the club,” she explained.
“We pulled this gathering off in a short space of time, but we are very happy to work with our former players to host these kinds of events.
“Engaging with the class of 1989 helped us understand from a human and football element just what these extraordinary players meant to us a club and to football in the country – and also what drove them to succeed.”
Chiefs’ class of 1989 won the NSL First Division, the BP Top Eight, the Iwisa Charity Cup and the Ohlsson’s Challenge Cup.
