MamaJoy grateful after Khoza calls her ‘South Africa’s number one fan’

South Africa superfan Joy “MamaJoy” Chauke has revealed how a meeting with Orlando Pirates and Premier Soccer League chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza left her feeling honoured.

Chauke and Khoza were both at the SAFA elective congress in Midrand on 12 September 2026, where the former Orlando Pirates supporter was warmly acknowledged by the PSL chairman.

“I thank Dr. Khoza for honouring me on that day; he just said to me, ‘Ha! She’s our number one fan!’ That felt so special,” MamaJoy told KICK OFF.

Khoza was speaking to journalists when Chauke approached him to say hello. She said she was struck by the pride with which he introduced her.

“He was speaking to the journalists when I approached him to greet him. I was so surprised by the way he was so proud when he said to the journalists, ‘She’s our number 1 fan’,” she said.

Chauke explained that Khoza’s words were not intended to identify her as Orlando Pirates’ leading supporter, but as a prominent fan of South African football.

“He was not saying I was Orlando Pirates’ number 1 fan. He was saying I’m number 1 fan of South Africa. When a chairman of the PSL refers to you as our number 1 fan, it means you have done something for the country,” she added.

The moment also carried personal significance for Chauke, who left the Sea Robbers in November 2021 to support the now-defunct Royal AM.

She initially wondered whether Khoza might raise her decision to leave Orlando Pirates, although she said she had always believed he did not hold it against her.

“At first I thought he was going to ask me about leaving Pirates, but I always knew that ‘Baba’ holds no grudges against me for leaving Pirates,” she said.

Instead, their exchange became emotional. Chauke told Khoza she missed him, and he replied that the feeling was mutual.

“My response to him was, ‘Hey, Baba, I miss you’. And he said, ‘Hey, we miss each other’. It was so emotional. I like the way he addressed me with respect. I felt honoured,” MamaJoy said.