Former Orlando Pirates striker Jerry Sikhosana has directed frustrations at his former club in what he believes is unfair treatment beyond his playing days.
‘Legs of Thunder’ achieved legendary status with the Buccaneers after his solitary goal in the second leg away to ASEC Mimosas guided them to the club’s only CAF Champions League title back in 1995.
- ALSO READ: Jerry – Why I’m ‘Not Okay’ With Pirates’ League Success
- Ouaddou On Squad Rotation Amid Pirates’ Demanding Schedule
The 57-year-old joined the Sea Robbers from Witbank Aces in 1993 and donned the black and white of the Soweto giants before departing in 1998 only to return for a second stint in 2000 and 2001.
During his time at Pirates, the former Bafana Bafana striker netted 44 goals in 125 appearances, edging his name in the club’s history books as one of their sharpshooters over the years.
Despite all this, Sikhosana has lashed out at his former side in what he described as a painful experience of not been recognised as a club legend.
Speaking on the Kasi Jam podcast from the Podcast & Chill network, Sikhosana added on how he once had to queue to buy a match ticket with the rest of the fans while he took time to express gratitude to Kaizer Chiefs Marketing & Commercial Director Jessica Motaung for sourcing him a VIP suite ticket.
“When you look at the Pirates jersey with a star, the first impression should be, ‘Thank you Jerry Sikhosana, you gave us a star’,” he said.
“You’d go to the stadium and queue with the supporters to go and buy a match ticket. I swear to God that’s what’s happening.
“I was once with Brian [Baloyi] in Durban. We moved to a suite, I bumped into Thandi [Merafe, Pirates media officer], and she looked down.
“I then saw Eddie [Edward Motale] and Lucky [Lekgwathi], and they were wearing these new Pirates tracksuits. You could see these are the two legends that were picked for that game.
“They were like, ‘and what about the uniform?’, and I asked them ‘what uniform? I’m not a Pirates legend. I’m just wearing my clothes’.
“[Kaizer] Chiefs legends wore their own uniform. I wouldn’t wear the Pirates merchandise.
“All I wanted there was to ask for a ticket as a Pirates legend, but I was deprived. Chiefs gave me [a ticket].
“As I was leaving, 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 who you are, you can be black on the outside, but we know how you are inside’.
“Where are the people I served? I mean a person from Chiefs gave me attention, whereas I played for Pirates, but the same team ignored me.
“I got special treatment from a rival, which is the same team I used to destroy. Where are the people I served during the derby?”
Sikhosana currently owns a team called Tembisa Hollywood Thunder FC that campaigns in the ABC Motsepe League.