Ivory Coast legend Salomon Kalou has explained why he supports Kaizer Chiefs and revealed how influential Doctor Khumalo was on his iconic career.
The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations winner is in the country and was a notable part of the pre-match build-up for the sold-out Soweto Derby event at FNB Stadium last weekend.
Having visited Naturena Village last year and being pictured with the Bafana Bafana legend, Kalou sought to explain his affinity towards Amakhosi and in particular Khuamlo.
“Because of the colour, ASEC is yellow and black as well and also, it’s a long story behind me wearing this Doctor Khumalo shirt, my brother was idolising Doctor Khumalo as he grew up, so we used to call him Khumalo,” Kalou said.
“I didn’t know [Doctor] Khumalo before, I know my brother was Khumalo, so when I got watch South Africa national team during the AFCON and the World Cup, he was player who impressed, legendary technique on the ball, and this is the type of football we love.
“So when I came here I got the chance to visit the village and meet him and I got to get the link with my brother and exchanged the shirt, and he was very pleased with that, it was a great moment… now every time I go home, I tell him he owes me something because I got you Doctor Khumalo’s shirt.”
Kalou’s older brother Bonaventure, was another great in Elephants history, with the similar career path from ASEC Mimosas to Feyenoord, but went on to spent his prime years in France, with Auxerre, Paris Saint-Germain and RC Lens before winding down his career in the United Arab Emirates with Al Jazira and eventually retiring in the Netherlands with Heerenveen.
“He was my idol, I wanted to play like him and that number 15 jersey, for me, when he [Bonaventure] played in the national team, he wore the 15, he went to Auxerre wearing 15, PSG wearing 15, so it’s because of Doctor Khumalo he wore that number,” he explained.
“So, I kind of, trough him, grew up loving Doctor Khumalo as well and that’s why the number 15 is a special number.”
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