Lucas
Radebe - Motivational Speaker, MC and Celebrity
Sportsman - Johannesburg
Lucas Valeriu Radebe (born 12 April 1969) is a
former Leeds United and South African football
player. During his career, Radebe was renowned for
being a world-class centre back and a great
ambassador for the sport.
He began playing in South Africa with Kaizer Chiefs,
following this he moved to Premiership side Leeds
United and over the course of several years firmly
established himself as a club legend[peacock term],
retiring after having played over 200 matches for
the Yorkshire side. During his spells at the
aforementioned clubs, he picked up the nicknames "Rhoo"
and "The Chief" respectively, the latter of which
was given to him by former Leeds manager Davin
O'Leary.
Lucas Radebe
Lucas Radebe grew up as one of 11 children in one of
the toughest areas of Soweto and during one of the
most violent times in South Africa under apartheid.
That he went on to became one of the English Premier
League's most respected players - and South Africa's
most-capped footballer, with 70 appearances for
Bafana Bafana - is in many ways a miracle.
Radebe rose to prominence when he was appointed
Captain of Leeds United in the English
Premiership in 1998, taking charge of a team
filled with promising youngsters and some veterans.
Under his leadership the Yorkshire club went on to
become the force in English football it once had
been.
Lucas Radebe
Radebe's contribution was two-fold: leadership and
performance. He was recognised as one of the finest
defenders in the Premier League, and earned
universal respect from players and fans.
Early days
That status was light years removed from his
upbringing. Growing up in Diepkloof Zone Four in
Soweto township outside Johannesburg, Radebe was
regularly witness to violent incidents.
His breakthrough came in 1989, when talent scouts
spotted him and signed him up to play for one of
Africa's most glamorous clubs, Kaizer Chiefs.
Lucas Radebe
Thebe Mabanga, in the Mail & Guardian, writes
that South African fans remember Radebe in his
Kaizer Chiefs days as "a lanky, flamboyant
central midfielder who switched to central defence
with ease, snuffing out any opposition threat with
exquisite, acrobatic scissor kicks and diving
headers, and man-marking the most lethal strikers
into silence"
Off the field
Radebe's contribution on the field of play extended
way beyond the conventional boundaries for South
African and African footballers. His success had a
lot to do with making players from Africa more
marketable; now every Premiership scout is searching
for the next Lucas Radebe.
Terms of use:
This resource:
Does not claim to be an official website, the owners
or management over any supplier, service or content.
Will not respond to requests of a personal nature,
nor offer contacts nor share intellectual property.
Is purely a marketing and brokering medium for South
African Entertainment related suppliers and related
services and therefore this resource reserves the
right to only respond to official booking and quote
requests for corporate functions and events.
Lucas
Radebe - Motivational Speaker, MC and Celebrity
Sportsman - Johannesburg
