Where is ex-Kaizer Chiefs ‘stingy’ defender Cyril Nzama now?
When you talk about some of the most reliable defenders for Kaizer Chiefs in the past 30 years, Cyril Nzama has to be one of them.
Skhokho, as he is known by fans, is a simple man who did the talking on the field. Having started his career with Bush Bucks in the mid-90s, Nzama became a household name in the Premier Soccer League(PSL) and it was only a matter of time before signing with Amakhosi.
His big move to Chiefs saw him earn his first Bafana Bafana call-up in 2000. The 49-year-old danced at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan where he featured regularly for Bafana. Cyril Nzama made the right-back position his own having impressed for Amakhosi for two years.
After eight years with the Glamour Boys, Nzama left for Bay United before hanging up his boots at Batau FC. In total, he played more than 300 games in the PSL, scoring 12 times.
Cyril Nzama was a fan favourite during his Chiefs days
During his playing days, the ex-Bafana defender was accused of being stingy by some of his teammates. He was known for a simple life and never drove fancy cars like his colleagues.
“They used to say I was stingy but I argued that I knew how to use money. I don’t buy anything without negotiating,” Cyril Nzama told FARPost last year
If you want to buy something at a cut price, take me along and I’ll negotiate for you.”
“I had to make sure I provided for them. I needed to get a home for them and that meant denying myself certain things that looked nice to the eye to attain my goals. It meant there were no designer clothes for him. Not even expensive perfumes,” he said.
Cyril Nzama now works as a youth coach and mentor for Coach Time programme. According to FARPost, the programme seeks to create space for graduates to apply their learning in a collaborative Research and Development Project while giving them exposure to key pillars of a commercial enterprise.
Skhokho was part of the Bafana’s 2002 World Cup squad in Korea/Japan
The Soweto born-defender works alongside ex-footballers Teboho Moloi, William Shongwe, and Abel Shongwe. Since retirement from football, Cyril Nzama has been a coach, and has a Safa D Coaching Licence. According to Goal, Skhokho also was working towards a Uefa B Coaching Licence in 2019.