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Story Behind The Nickname: Tsotsi Number 1

In this edition of Story Behind The Nickname, former Orlando Pirates defender Abednego Netshiozwi recalls how Dr. Irvin Khoza called a meeting with all the players to give him a new nickname, "Tsotsi Number 1".

Netshiozwi reveals, in incredibly humorous detail, what led Orlando Pirates chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza to giving him the nickname "Tsotsi Number 1".

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The 46-year-old former left-back retired around 2010.

What's your nickname?

"Tsotsi Number 1"

Who gave it to you and why?

"We were playing against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, I remember I was already on a yellow card.

"I committed another foul again, and seeing that the referee was going to give me a second yellow card, I pushed him and at the same time pickpocketed him his red card.

"He was surrounded by players, so I used the opportunity to steal his red card.

"Because of the missing red card I couldn't be sent off, I continued playing until the 90 minutes.

"He was busy searching himself, but he couldn't find anything. I only gave it back to him after the game.

"For the whole last 30 minutes in that match, he officiated without a red card in his pocket.

"After the match, Mr Khoza called a meeting with all the players, and he said, 'From today, your nickname is Tsotsi Number 1'.

"Everybody around us was lost, they couldn't understand what was going on.

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"Then the chairman, still looking at me, said, 'You know what you did'.

Did you like it?

"Yes, I did. I didn't see any problem. This is the only football name I have."

If you could relive it, what would you want your nickname to be?

"I think I'm happy with this one. Tsotsi Number 1. I like it very much."

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