In this edition of Story Behind The Nickname, Kaizer Chiefs legend Jackie Masike reveals why the late Ewert Nene gave him the nickname "Asinamali".
Masike believes the poor quality of football that is dished out today is the reason current players don't own nicknames.
Who and where did you play?
"It was when Kaizer Chiefs had no money. It was during those days when we founded this club, it was 1969."
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What's your nickname?
"Asinamali."
Who gave it to you and why?
"It was given to me by the late Ewert Nene. He was part of the club management. I had asked for a salary raise, and he said to me that the club doesn't have money.
"Those days, there was no money in our football, we were playing for mahala. We were not getting enough money. That was in 1969, those were the days of Kaizer XI. The club only changed its name to Kaizer Chiefs in 1970."
Did you like it?
"I loved it from the onset. It suited me. It doesn't bother me that other players copied it because I also inherited it from a former Orlando Pirates player, I just forgot his name."
Anyone that didn't use it?
"Even today, everybody calls me 'Asinamali'."
If you could relive it, what would you want your nickname to be?
"I wouldn't change Asinamali for anything. This is a perfect nickname for me.
"Being a soccer player without a nickname must be painful. Like the current players, they don't have any nicknames.
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"It has to do with the quality of the football that is played by the players we have today."