Lucas Ntuba Radebe, SA soccer hero, is born in Diepkloof, Soweto

Lucas Radebe, South Africa's celebrated soccer legend was born in Diepkloof, Soweto. At the age of 15 his parents sent him to live in Bophuthatswana so could be safe from the political violence of the 1980’s. Soccer was one of his favourite pastimes and his talent was soon spotted by Kaizer Chief Scouts, who signed him up. He went on to become a successful soccer player both locally and abroad. Radebe captained Bafana Bafana, Kaizer Chiefs and the UK’s Leeds United. Radebe is the first South African to have captained two World Cup finals, these were in France in 1998 and South Korea and Japan in 2002.  He received a Master of Social Science honoris causa from UCT for his humanitarian work with various educational, social and charitable initiatives in South Africa. Alongside the joys in his life there have also been sorrows. In 1991 he was shot in the back and in 2008 he lost his wife Feziwe to cancer. Radebe remains one of South Africa’s most capped soccer players.