Radebe, who played for the ICL Birds in the then Bophuthatswana Soccer League (Bopsol) in 1985, wants to reconnect with the people of the province. The former Bafana Bafana and Leeds United captain, Lucas Radebe, longs to return to the North West to change people's lives. Radebe still considers Lehurutshe as his second home. This is after spending a few years there when it was called Welvedacht during the reign of Lucas Mangope in former Bophuthatswana.
His departure from Diepkloof in 1985 was when South Africa had been rendered ungovernable. During this time, the country was burning, the apartheid government introduced a state of emergency and Radebe's late mother, Emily, sent him away from the volatile Soweto. Before he left for Bophuthatswana, Radebe was a star player - sometimes played as a centre-back or goalkeeper at Bopa-Senatla Secondary School in Zone 2, Diepkloof.
Known as "Buick" because of his exploits at the back, Radebe played against the late former Bafana star, John "Shoes" Moshoeu, who played for Namedi High School in Zone 3, Diepkloof.
The pair played for Kaizer Chiefs in the early 1990s and were teammates at Bafana.
Radebe told Mo Media at his 55th birthday celebration, which was held at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, that moving to the North West Province saved his life.
"I moved to Bophuthatswana while doing Standard 8 (Grade 10) when the situation was volatile in Soweto. Our school Bopa-Senatla was known as Moscow and at the forefront of making the country ungovernable. That is when my mother decided to move me to the homelands of Bophuthatswana to finish my schooling there," said Radebe.
After passing his Matric at Ngotwane Secondary School, he went to Lehurutshe College of Education to study for a teacher's diploma near Zeerust. Without even completing his first year of studies, he had to pack his bags to join Kaizer Chiefs in Joburg after being spotted by Kaizer Chiefs legends Sylvester" City" Kole and Patrick "Ace" Ntsoelengoe.
On his birthday, April 12, Radebe spent his day at Wards 43 and 44, accommodating children who have cancer at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.
He was in the company of other former Amakhosi legends, such as goalkeeper Banks Setlhodi, Jackie "Asinamali" Masike and Orlando Pirates legend Papi Khomane. Papi's father, Johannes "Yster" Khomane, played against Setlhodi and Masike in the late 70s and early 80s.
The birthday party was preceded by a brass band that walked about a kilometre to the venue, with Radebe and his family at the hospital.
The Siphiwe Msimango Foundation organised the event, and it was a touching moment for Radebe, whose wife, Feziwe Ngqobe, also died of cancer in October 2008.
Feziwe, the mother of Owami and Lucas Hugo Radebe, were originally from Mafikeng.
About his big day, Radebe said he could have gone to Konka nightclub in Soweto to celebrate his birthday but opted to celebrate his special day with children with cancer.
"This is my Konka. For who I am today, I am inspired by these kids. It makes me wonder if these kids will realise their dreams of being bus drivers or nurses one day," said Radebe.
He was flanked at his birthday party by his siblings and brother-in-law at the children's wards.
Radebe enjoyed the cake and juice with the children and staff at the hospital. He visited each bed in both wards to engage with the children and made time to pose for photos and selfies with staff members.
He plans not only to assist them but the elderly and vulnerable people with food parcels.
"I arrived in that place (Lehurutshe) when it was a rural place and had nothing to do except play soccer for ICL Birds."Since there is good infrastructure in North West lately, I plan to go there again to assist the community because I'm the son of Lehurutshe," he said.
He said children with cancer are close to his heart, and he would also make a plan to assist them in North West Province.
Brief facts about Lucas Radebe:
* His ten siblings grew up supporting Orlando Pirates, together with their father, Johannes. Their mother was an ardent Kaizer Chiefs supporter.
* He has several nicknames: Buick, earned at Bopa-Senatla; Rhoo, earned at Kaizer Chiefs and The Chief, which he got from Elland Road when he played for Leeds United in England.
* At Bopa-Senatla Secondary School, Radebe played as a defender; and in one game, he played wearing a cast after breaking his arm. He would also play as a goalkeeper at school when the 'keeper’ was unavailable.
* His senior schoolmates at Bopa-Senatla were music guru and producer Sello "Chicco" Twala and the former Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs defender Steven "Madzebe" Mnguni.
* Originally from Zone 4 Diepkloof, Radebe joined ICL Birds as a goalkeeper, and the team only realised after a few matches that he was comfortable playing as a central defender.
* After joining Chiefs in 1989, he left the club to play in England for Leeds United in 1994.
* He played 197 matches there.
* Having debuted for the South African national team in their first international match on July 7 1992, against Cameroon, Radebe earned 70 caps for Bafana Bafana. He was part of the Bafana team that won the African Cup of Nations in 1996.
* He captained the team during both the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
* Radebe has been an ambassador of FIFA for SOS Children's Villages. He also received the FIFA Fair Play Award in December 2000 for his contribution to fighting racism in soccer and working with children in South Africa.
* Radebe inspired Kaiser Chiefs, a British pop band - all Leeds United supporters when chose this name since he is a former player of Kaizer Chiefs.
* In 1991, Radebe was shot whilst driving with his brother Lazarus in Soweto. But the bullet did not hit his sensitive parts since he continued to play soccer.
Radebe spent 11 years at Leeds United and made 262 appearances for the Premier League side. At the end of the 2005 season, he retired from professional football. Leeds held a testimonial for Radebe at Elland Road on May 2 2005, attended by a crowd of over 37 000.
* In April 2003, Radebe was recognised for his efforts both on and off the field and was given the contribution to the Community Award in the Premier League 10 Seasons Awards.
* At the end of the 2005 season, Radebe retired from professional football.
* Radebe held a retirement match in Durban between a South African Invitation XI and Lucas Radebe All Stars at Kings Park Soccer Stadium. The proceeds were donated to charity.
By: ZAKHELE SHIBA
