Zola Mahobe: South African Football Legend, Visionary, and Fallen Hero
A Zola Mahobe Legend’s Rise and Fall in the Shadows of Apartheid
In the turbulent 1980s, South Africa grappled with apartheid’s grip. During this time, a charismatic businessman from Soweto emerged as an unlikely hero in the world of football. Zola Mahobe, dubbed “Mr. Cool” for his flamboyant style and audacious ambition, transformed Mamelodi Sundowns from a relegation-threatened team into a glamorous powerhouse. His story is a blend of brilliance, betrayal, and redemption. It remains etched in the annals of South African sport. His journey is a testament to the complexities of ambition in a fractured society.
- From Sophiatown to Soweto: The Making of a Dreamer
- The Brazilians of Mamelodi: Building a Superteam
- Glory, Glamour, and a Clandestine Friendly
- The Fraud That Shook a Nation
- Legacy: A Foundation for Future Giants
- Epilogue: The Man Behind The Myth
- Frequently Asked Questions About His Impact on South African Football
From Sophiatown to Soweto: The Making of a Dreamer
Mahobe was born in Sophiatown in 1954. His early football adventures with his uncle Harrison Selulu sparked his passion for the game. Selulu was a Moroka Swallows fanatic. “We’d sneak into matches to watch. We weren’t there just to guard his car,” Mahobe later recalled. This hinted at the rebellious spirit that would define his career. After stints in corporate jobs, he launched Power Promotions in 1983. He swiftly built a business empire that included butcheries, bottle stores, and a travel agency. But what really attracted him was football, not business.
We played with joy, like artists.
In 1985, Mahobe bought Mamelodi Sundowns, then languishing in the National Soccer League (NSL). The club, originally from Marabastad, had struggled financially despite a brief promotion to the top flight in 1983. To Mahobe, this was more than a business venture. It was a chance to rewrite the rules of South African football.
The Brazilians of Mamelodi: Building a Superteam
Mahobe’s first act was to raid rival clubs for top talent, paying unheard-of transfer fees. He shattered records with an R40,000 deal for Bush Bucks striker Mike Mangena. He also lured stars like Harold “Jazzy Queen” Legodi, Harris “TV4” Tshoeu, and Malawian sensation Lovemore Chafunya. Players who once earned “R200 or R300 a month” suddenly signed contracts with salaries that matched their star power.
Dressed in yellow and blue—a homage to Brazil’s Seleção—Sundowns became synonymous with flair. Mahobe hired Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala. He was a pioneering Black coach in a white-dominated industry. Mahobe funded his coaching clinics in Brazil and Italy. Under Tshabalala, the team adopted “Shoeshine and Piano”—a style prioritising creativity over rigid tactics. “We played with joy, like artists,” Tshabalala later reflected.
Glory, Glamour, and a Clandestine Friendly
By 1986, Sundowns had clinched their first trophy: the Mainstay Cup. To celebrate, Mahobe flew the entire team—and their partners—to London for the FA Cup final between Liverpool and Everton. The trip, a surreal spectacle for a township club, included a secret friendly against Crystal Palace. The game was played using dustbins as goalposts and a club coach as referee in order to circumvent the sports boycotts of the apartheid era. The 2-2 draw made headlines back home, cementing Mahobe’s reputation as a maverick.
Yet his ambitions stretched further. He promised the squad a tour of Brazil, but the embassy denied visas due to sanctions. Undeterred, Mahobe kept funding lavish perks. He provided BMWs for players. He gave loans to rival clubs like the Orlando Pirates. His jet-setting lifestyle captured fans and critics alike.
The Fraud That Shook a Nation
Behind the glitz lay a darker truth. Mahobe’s fortune was bankrolled by Tebello “Snowy” Moshoeshoe, his mistress and a Standard Bank teller. For five years, she syphoned R10 million through fraudulent transfers, masking deficits with interbank sleight of hand. The scheme unravelled in 1987 when Mahobe, obsessed with importing a Mercedes-Benz 500SEL, triggered a credit check during Moshoeshoe’s leave. Exposed, Moshoeshoe confessed to 129 counts of fraud, while Mahobe fled to Botswana.
We’d sneak into matches to watch. We weren’t there just to guard his car.
Mahobe was extradited and given a 16-year prison sentence following a nine-month manhunt. Moshoeshoe passed away from cancer in 2010 after receiving a ten-year sentence. The consequences were severe. The family of Mahobe lost their house. Standard Bank confiscated Sundowns. Abe and Solly Krok, brothers of Disprin and Dettol fame, purchased the club.
Legacy: A Foundation for Future Giants
Mahobe’s imprisonment left Sundowns in disarray, but his blueprint endured. The Kroks stabilised the club, laying groundwork for Patrice Motsepe’s 2003 takeover. Under Motsepe, Sundowns became continental champions—a trajectory Mahobe have achieved had greed not derailed him.
Today, his legacy is polarising. To some, he was a crook; to others, he was a visionary who professionalised South African football. Former players remember him as a “generous father figure,” while critics note the hypocrisy of his philanthropy-funded fraud. Yet even detractors admit one thing. Without Mahobe, Sundowns’ rise from “Brazilians of Mamelodi” to African royalty would lack its audacious origin story.
Epilogue: The Man Behind The Myth
Zola Mahobe died in 2013, nine days after Nelson Mandela. His passing, barely reported, mirrored his life—a blend of obscurity and notoriety. In Soweto’s shebeens, old-timers still debate his legacy: Was he a thief? A pioneer? Or both? He was simply a man of his time—a product of apartheid’s contradictions, where ambition often danced with desperation.
As Sundowns dominate African football, Mahobe’s ghost lingers—a reminder that even fallen heroes can reshape history.
Frequently Asked Questions About His Impact on South African Football
Who was Zola Mahobe, and why is he significant in South African football history?
Zola Mahobe was a businessman and football club owner. In the 1980s, he converted Mamelodi Sundowns from a poor team to a dazzling powerhouse. He modified the club’s structure by introducing exorbitant pay. He signed elite players and established a fashionable football style known as “Shoeshine and Piano.” His ambitious idea paved the way for Sundowns’ future success.Yet, his legacy is marred by his conviction for fraud.
What was “Shoeshine and Piano,” and how did it change South African football?
“Shoeshine and Piano” was a playing style introduced by coach Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala under Mahobe’s leadership. It emphasised flair, creativity, and entertainment over rigid tactics, drawing inspiration from Brazil’s Seleção. This approach not only made Sundowns a fan favourite. It also challenged the conservative, results-driven mindset of South African football at the time. This mindset inspired a more expressive and dynamic game.
How did Zola Mahobe’s financial dealings lead to his downfall?
Mahobe spent lavishly on Sundowns. Fraudulent activities funded this spending. These activities were orchestrated by his mistress, Tebello “Snowy” Moshoeshoe, a Standard Bank teller. Over five years, she syphoned R10 million through fraudulent transfers to sustain Mahobe’s lifestyle and club operations. The scheme collapsed in 1987. This led to Mahobe’s arrest. He received a 16-year prison sentence, and he lost his ownership of Sundowns.
What happened to Mamelodi Sundowns after Zola Mahobe’s arrest?
After Mahobe’s arrest, Sundowns were seized by Standard Bank. They were then sold to Abe and Solly Krok. The Krok brothers stabilised the club with sponsorship from their companies (Disprin, Dettol, and Heman). In 2003, mining magnate Patrice Motsepe bought the club. This marked the beginning of an era of unprecedented success. The club secured multiple league titles and continental trophies. Many credit Mahobe’s early innovations as the groundwork for this success.
How is Zola Mahobe remembered today?
Zola Mahobe’s legacy is a mix of admiration and controversy. He is celebrated as a visionary. He revolutionised South African football by professionalising player contracts. He invested in coaching and promoted an attractive style of play. Yet, his criminal actions and the fallout from his fraud case have tempered his reputation. Despite this, his impact on Mamelodi Sundowns and South African football remains undeniable. He is a pivotal (if flawed) figure in the sport’s history.
