Kaizer Motaung: Inspired Leader

Kaizer Motaung

Tumisang Matubatuba14009710Assignment 314 August 2014

The purpose of this presentation:

- Identify and assess an individual who was successful at building a brand- State what makes this person a leader- Explain how innovation and entrepreneurship played a role in creating business success- Show how the individuals attitudes and beliefs influence the behaviour as a leader- Discover how values and personality affect their actions as a leader- Find their source of motivation- Lessons learned through success and failure

To find and individual who built a brand through leadership, innovation

and entrepreneurship

Working definitions:

LeadershipLeadership is a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal.

Innovation: Innovation can be defined through three thinking processes which help discover new ideas, select the best ideas and engaging others in support to implement the ideas.

EntrepreneurshipAn entrepreneur is an individual who undertakes the risk associatedwith creating, organising, and owning a business.

These are the concepts

which helped identify and

define the chosen leader

Kaizer Motaung was born in 1944, Orlando East, Soweto. It is here

where he fell in love with football. At the age of 16, he turned his love

into a career, becoming a professional and signing with Orlando

Pirates.

The political climate in the country, divided races apart. This extended

to football, where leagues were also racially split.

However in Soweto, the segregation was amongst its own people,

divided by two teams: Kaizer’s beloved Orlando Pirates and Moraka

Swallows – The original Soweto giants.

Soon, Kaizer’s talent saw him leaving for America, to play for Atlanta

Chiefs. He could not have foreseen upon his departure from Pirates,

that one day when he returned, that they would become arch rivals.

Kaizer enjoyed great success abroad, and was influential in the

performance of his team and its success.

While abroad, Kaizer learned of the infighting at Orlando Pirates and

the expulsion of many of his former teammates from the club, which

led to division within the team. It is perhaps at this point, where the

dream was born.

Upon his return to South Africa, in the mid 70’s at the height of

apartheid. He tried to resolve issues at Pirates, to no avail.

He saw an opportunity in this, and rallied up the expelled players and

many others, to form a team which would play only in friendlies at first.

This saw the beginning of his legacy: Kaizer’s XI.

As his dream team gained momentum, the vision of forming an official

team grew stronger.

His loyalty to Pirates acted as a stumbling block for a long time, as he

prioritised internal mediation over his dream for a team.

But the responsibility he felt for his outcast teammates, and his vision

of a soccer team which was harmonious, dominant and efficient:

motivated him to persevere towards that dream.

He displayed leadership by being the answer to many expelled

footballers at the time, and the best practices learnt abroad were the

foundation of his business viability.

His charisma and personality naturally led people to follow him, and

his clear vision enabled him to lead. After travelling the country and

rallying up more players, the Kaizer Chiefs dream was finally born.

However this was not to be another soccer team. Kaizer had a

different vision for his team: “Kaizer Chiefs was formed I guess, at the

right time” he says.

His visionary style leadership and innovative thinking understood the

climate in the country, and got people to rally around a central idea:

“We promoted the concept of love and peace, and incorporated it into

our slogan.”

This idea, born from his attitudes and beliefs translated into a

differentiated soccer team offering, which the country needed at the

time.

“We attracted new supporters, and others from Pirates and Swallows:

I guess supporters were looking for something new, something

special, something different they can identify with, and Chiefs fitted

the bill perfectly.”

Having been a revered soccer player himself, his values and

personality were still evident in him as a leader. He promoted his

ideals to the players, emphasizing that soccer was about

camaraderie, friendship and sportsmanship – on and off the pitch.

His lessons overseas aided him in his entrepreneurial venture. By

adapting best practices he learnt abroad, he was able to efficiently

and effectively compete against the other giants of the game.

It wasn’t always smooth sailing though, and many mistakes were

committed as a result of being a young team. After multiple failures in

his journey, he says that: “Had it not been the encouragement of my

father, Chiefs would not exist today.”

“The learning never stops, dealing with so many football associations

it is always important to be well versed in their rules and regulations.”

Having the right team in place has proved to be a critical success

factor for Kaizer, as the team continues to prosper.

Over the years Chiefs has grown in the number of followers it has,

transforming from a challenger team in Soweto, to earning the status

of being a “Soweto Giant” – surpassing Swallows on all accounts in

the process.

40 years later, the club is the most decorated club in the history of

South African football, having enjoyed many successes along the

way. And the followers keep coming, as Chiefs continues to innovate

around what the team can offer its fans.

Whether it be their great media efforts…

…a highly organised and engaging supporters club…

…value added insurance products designed for Chiefs fans…

Or even a 7’s rugby team…

Kaizer Motaung has managed to curate an experience for Chiefs

supporters which is second to none, bringing with it business success

to the brand.

Kaiser Chiefs has become an icon, inspiring both locally and beyond

South African borders.

Whether it be Jomo Sono, who was also inspired to start his own

team – Jomo Cosmos

Or a band abroad, who found inspiration for their name in the great

team…

Today, one can not mention African football, with out mentioning the

mighty Kaizer Chiefs.

And it all started with a vision one man had, of what a great soccer

team could become.