Orlando Pirates legend Jerry Sikhosana feels he has not been treated well by his former club despite his years of service to the Buccaneers.
Sikhosana famously scored in the 1995 CAF Champions League final against ASEC Mimosas, helping Pirates secure their only title in the competition’s history.
The retired striker, however, believes the club has failed to show him the appreciation he deserves, revealing that he has been denied VIP treatment on several occasions.
Speaking on the Kasi Jam podcast, Sikhosana expressed his frustration at having to queue alongside ordinary supporters to buy tickets to watch his former team in action.
“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.
Kaizer Chiefs Give Orlando Pirates legend Special Treatment
Sikhosana also recalled an incident at last year’s Nedbank Cup final in Durban, where he received attention from Kaizer Chiefs despite his history with their fierce Soweto rivals.
The former striker was with ex-Chiefs goalkeeper Brian Baloyi when they went to the suites, where he encountered Thandi Merafe (Bucs media officer) and spotted 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 greeting Motale and Lekgwathi, Sikhosana was asked where his own uniform was. He responded by suggesting that he was no longer regarded as a legend because he was wearing his own clothes.
The Pirates icon also explained how he struggled to get tickets to watch the match from the grandstand before bumping into Chiefs marketing director Jessica Motaung.
“As I was leaving, on the stairs, I bumped into Jessica Motaung. 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 recalled.
‘Where Are the People I Served?’ the Orlando Pirates legend asked.
Sikhosana questioned why he received attention from Chiefs when he felt overlooked by the club where he made his name.
“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.
The Bucs legend added that he has become accustomed to queuing with supporters whenever he wants to watch Orlando Pirates play.
“I am no longer a legend, I take pictures with supporters, that’s what I tell them,” Sikhosana added.