Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung has expressed shock and sadness at the passing of club legend Kito Petrus ‘Ten-Ten’ Nzimande who passed away on Tuesday.

The former midfielder, who played for Amakhosi in the seventies, recently had a stroke and never recovered.

‘Words cannot express how distraught I felt upon hearing this news,’ Motaung told the club website.

‘I have known Ten-Ten since he joined Kaizer’s XI in late 1969. He was not only a great teammate during the time that he played for Chiefs, we were good friends as well.’

‘He was not a big talker,’ said Motaung before continuing, ‘but on the field he led with his actions. He was very strong and a player everybody looked up to.’

The defensive midfielder, who could also play as a centre back, featured in Kaizer Chiefs’ first Soweto Derby on 24 January 1970, 17 days after the foundation of the club on 7 January 1970. Nzimande scored a goal in a match Amakhosi eventually lost 6-4.

Nzimande, who was also nicknamed ‘Gentle Giant’, played for the Glamour Boys from 1970 until 1978, while having earlier already joined Kaizer’s XI. He was part of the side that won Chiefs’ first ever league title in 1974, scoring two goals.

‘On behalf of the Club and my family I wish the Nzimande family strength during these challenging times,’ Motaung concluded. ‘My deepest heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends.”

‘My deepest heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends.’

Nzimande was 69-years-old.