Kaizer Chiefs’ Marketing and Commercial Director Jessica Motaung has explained why she initially didn’t want her son Kenneth to play for the Amakhosi.
The tall striker started his football career at Wanderers Warriors and away from the spotlight under his paternal name Simmons, as first reported by Soccer Laduma.
However, he then joined Chiefs youth ranks and is now making a name for himself under Tshidiso Letsholonyane whose U17 side recently won the Gauteng Development League.
“I’ve watched him form [when he was] a youngster, from just purely enjoying the game and I loved that,”
“And I’m excited for him, he loves the sport, he is passionate about football and I’ve watched him, he really loves it. It’s not something I’ve imposed.
“To see him, aerially amazing, he loves the game and he has a very, very intellectual brain for football, from an early age. It’s something we all were surprised about.
“I’m excited, but he must do the work. It’s part of what the journey is. To whom much is given, much is required to. His responsibility is much bigger, he’s going to work harder, he’s got to do the work.
“One of the things I want he must enjoy his career. He mustn’t be inhibited by who he is and where he comes from. He must love the game as best as he can.
“I just provide the platform to do what he loves.”
Motaung also explained that she wanted her son to start his football journey away from the pressure of playing for the club his famous grandfather has founded.
“He’s always under pressure and I didn’t want him to play for Chiefs. He didn’t play for Chiefs for years,” she added.
“He started his career at Wanderers Warriors who have done an amazing job and I must thank those people who laid the foundation, but at the same time I understand that he is a wonderful player and he must be doing his work.
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“That’s the important thing for me, but he is under a lot of pressure. I want him to enjoy it and do his work. It’s not about me, it’s about him.”
Image credit: Kaizer Chiefs
