Thabo Moloisane: Kaizer Chiefs was the only club I knew growing up

Kaizer Chiefs defender Thabo Moloisane says his familiarity with the club’s development structures made it easy to settle into life with the first team.

The 27-year-old came through the club’s system and says his connection with Kaizer Chiefs began long before he joined the senior side. He was speaking to the media on Monday afternoon ahead of Tuesday night’s Betway Premiership meeting with Stellenbosch FC, his former club.

Moloisane believes a player must develop a genuine affection for the team before he can fully commit to representing it.

“I think the first thing, like I said, you look out and you see the guys, you see how much of a big club this is,” he said.

“But for me, what developed the love for me was, because I grew up around here, the only thing that I knew was Kaizer Chiefs and it was an important step for me to actually come into a club where I know this is where I grew up.”

The defender said his background at Kaizer Chiefs had given him an understanding of the responsibility that comes with playing for the club.

“I know what it would take for me to actually say, hey, I grew up down the road but, at the end of the day, I brought back glory into the team,” he added.

Moloisane also stressed that joining the club should involve more than simply completing the formalities of a transfer.

“So yeah, I mean, it’s just as important, you know, to not just sign the paper and all that but to love the club first, because when you love the club first, you’ll do your best,” he said.

Moloisane has made five Premiership appearances for Amakhosi this season. He will now face Stellenbosch FC for the first time since leaving the club when the sides meet on Tuesday night.