Gaborone — Mmegi Correspondent DENNIS KEAGILE takes us down memory lane on the early days of Mochudi Centre Chiefs who this weekend could be crowned the Mascom Premier League champions should they beat Boteti Young Fighters or if Gaborone United draws or loses to ECCO City Greens.

It is said some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Some have leadership bestowed upon them at the time of their birth, while others have to sweat hard to realise their dreams. Equally, as with organisations, some become successful in no time upon their establishment while others take time to mature. Some just crumble in their formative days. For Mochudi Centre Chiefs, it has been a struggle laden with twists and turns, from bankruptcy to break-up to relegation to liquidation. Perhaps no club in the Premier League has experienced what Chiefs have undergone in its 38 years of existence.

The Setswana word, matlholaadibona can perhaps best describe the journey of Chiefs. At its inception, Magosi faced hostility from some of the village elders in its birthplace Mochudi. By then, the only two clubs worth mentioning in the village were Mochudi Rovers, supported by the royal family and the defunct Mochudi Big XV. In fact it is said Chiefs was formed in 1970 but has to disperse or go underground as the village elders did not want to see some small boys disturbing the status quo.

It was the need for change that led to the formation of Chiefs. A group of young boys felt that Rovers and Big XV were not keen on change and decided to form Magosi. The name of the club was derived from the community centre in Mochudi and South African soccer giants Kaizer Chiefs. The centre was the hub of life in Mochudi while Kaizer Chiefs' was important because many of those who formed Mochudi Centre Chiefs admired the South African club. "We used to meet a lot at the community centre in Mochudi hence the name Centre Chiefs," says Isaac Davids, one of the founder members of the club. Initially, Chiefs used blue kits they were given by Eddie Aphiri. Then Davids went to school in Torino, Italy and bought the club a kit from his savings after getting attracted by the uniform of Juventus. This is how Chiefs got its black and white stripes.

"The opposition or hostility that we faced from the likes of Rovers and Big XV made us more determined. It was never easy playing against those sides but luckily, we won promotion to the First Division ahead of them and thereafter, we never looked (back). Some of us who schooled in Gaborone used to train with Gaborone United as we did not have the money to travel to Mochudi for training. Besides, the roads were bad," reveals Davids. At times it is said the team could not afford a proper football to use for training and instead used a tennis ball.

"I have already offered the club a beast to feast on because I feel very elated and honoured at the achievement. It has been a big struggle from all of us," says Davids. Chiefs has always tried to distinguish itself as a club of classy and entertaining football. That is why even if it has taken them long to win the league trophy, they have been admired and respected by both fan and foe.

Over the years, Magosi has produced great players such as Rammala 'Ryder' Sekobye, Jerry Phetlhe, Louis Tlhowe, Richard '3-Litre' Kwapa, Nelson 'Sarafina' Setshwane, Edwin 'Hlabankane' Masire, the late Irvin 'Careca' Moyo and late Meshack 'Teenage' Letsholo (may their souls rest in peace) and the man who for a longtime was its image and symbol, Matshediso 'Sexton The Godfather' Kowa.

With all the trials and tribulations highlighted by a break-up in 1984, relegation in 1994, a court battle with Geoffrey Maygillip in 1997, relegation play-offs in 2004 and near liquidation, perhaps Chiefs have the right to throw the mother of all parties.