For the first time in 20 years, Charles Motlohi reveals what caused Daniel Mudau to give him the most infamous soccer klap 'chesa mpama' on live television.
It was the BP Top 8 final against Kaizer Chiefs in 2001 at FNB Stadium, and Mamelodi Sundowns were reeling after a 7-6 penalty shootout defeat following a 2-2 draw.
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Sundowns legend 'Mambush' gave 'King Charles' a warm klap after the game on live TV with his family watching for refusing to take a penalty.
Remember Daniel Mudau when he gave Charles Motlohi a slap for not taking a penalty? pic.twitter.com/cYbTMqARX2
— Master Roshi ?? (@Prince_Ngcobo) March 5, 2020
Mudau had been substituted and could not take a penalty, and the spot-kick ended up being taken by Michael Manzini, who missed, allowing Cyril Nzama to take the sudden death penalty that earned Amakhosi R1-million.
"If you remember in that season before that final we had a game against Celtic where I attempted to pass John Tlale only to find I didn't put enough power on the ball," Motlohi recalls to snl24.com/kickoff.
"Remember the grass at the Loftus pitch was too long. Because there was no pace in my ball they took it and scored. So the following days there were rumours that Celtic paid me to sell the game.
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"The guys from SuperSport, Pitso [Mosimane], the late Thomas Madigage and Kaitano Tembo came to convince me to join SuperSport saying, 'Hey man, those people are saying you've been paid to sell the game, please come and join us...'
"I even had a [SuperSport] t-shirt, all that was left was for me to move there. When Themba Mnguni went there I was supposed to be part of that. But Ted [Dumitru] refused to let me go.
Here is another view of the slap, Motlohi did try to fight back pic.twitter.com/VmlBXDel0U
— Master Roshi ?? (@Prince_Ngcobo) March 5, 2020
"Now going back to the final. It's penalty shootouts... and in professional football then we had people we trusted when it came to penalties, and some of us we were not part of that group.
"I'm sure there were four of us players who were supposed to kick that penalty. Joas Magolego was there. I said to him, 'Joas, please let me take the last one because remember what happened in the Celtic game. I will take the last one so these Greeks [then Sundowns' owners] won't say I sold the game.'
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"While still discussing it, Manzini stood up and took it. When he realised he has missed it he held his foot [pretending to be injured].
"Mambush was already substituted sitting on the bench. I just saw them come running towards us screaming, 'Hey you cowards! You cost us, how can you let Manzini take a penalty?'
"They don't even know what happened there you see. They don't even know what we discussed for Manzini to get up and take the penalty.
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"You know, coming from rural places like Welkom, you must have 'balls' and stand for yourself sometimes. So I said to them, 'Hhayi nee ningazongijwayela amasimba nina [Don't tell me s*** you people]!'
"That's what made me and Mambush fight you see. But I have forgotten about everything. Even now when I walk in the streets, I hold my head high.
"It never affected me, even today. I can't go back and fight again. Life should go on. But what I liked about Mambush, he apologised. He is still apologising even now. So how can I hold grudges?"
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