Jerry Sikhosana Turns 53: Celebrating One of South Africa's Greatest but Most Underrated Strikers

Jerry Sikhosana, a bona fide legend of South African football, celebrates his birthday today, turning 53-years-old

The former Orlando Pirates striker scored one of the most famous goals in the country's history in an African Champions Cup final against Asec Mimosa in 1995

Despite his successes in local football, he surprisingly did not get an extended run in the colours of Bafana Bafana at an international level

Orlando Pirates' all-time great Jerry Sikhosana celebrates his 53rd birthday today.

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Sikhosana was born in Tembisa in Midrand, Johannesburg, on 08 February 1969.

Jerry Sikhosana enjoyed a distinguished career with Orlando Pirates, and even represented Bafana Bafana at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Source: UGC

He earned himself the nickname "Legs Of Thunder" because of his speed and tirelessness, in the fashion of a fictional horse on a local television series back in the 1990s, as reported by Kick Off.

According to Talk Radio 702, Sikhosana will be forever remembered for scoring the winning goal against Asec Mimosa in the African Champions Cup final in 1995, the first time a South African team at club or international level had won an international competition.

Legs Of Thunder made 10 appearances for Bafana Bafana between 1996 and 1998, forming part of the squad that qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, the first time South Africa had reached the global showpiece event. His international career never really took off, with Sikhosana not managing to score a goal for the national team in that time.

He had a short-lived run with Yunnan Hongta F.C. in the Chinese Jia-A League in 1996, where he scored 13 goals in 22 appearances, before returning home.

He enjoyed a rivalry of note with legendary Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brian Baloyi in the late 1990s, which included scoring a landmark hat-trick against the Amakhosi for the Buccaneers in the 1996 Bobsave Superbowl semifinal, a 4-1 victory. This was the last hat-trick to be scored in the Soweto Derby.

Sikhosana ventured into coaching after his career ended. His last gig was with ABC Motsepe League team Tornado FC in the Eastern Cape, according to Soccer Laduma.

Goal reported in 2019 that Sikhosana was brought on board as a technical advisor for the Ke Yona Team, a composite side of promising lower level players selected every season to take on the winners of the Nedbank Cup.

He is seen regularly on SuperSport as a pundit for Premier Soccer League and lower division matches.

Orlando Pirates proves African football pedigree after record-breaking achievement making CAF Confed Cup final

As reported by Sports Brief, Orlando Pirates made more history in qualifying for the CAF Confederations Cup final set to be hosted by the city of Uyo in Nigeria.

They became the first South African team to qualify for four African club football finals.

The Sea Robbers will take on Morocco's RS Berkane at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Friday night.