Kaizer Chiefs legend Fani Madida has hailed Kaizer Motaung as ‘the glue that keeps the supporters and club together’ on his 74th birthday.

The Amakhosi chairman, who founded the club back in 1970, celebrates his birthday on Tuesday with many tributes pouring in.

The former Chiefs striker praised Motaung as somebody who has ‘excelled as a player and an administrator’.

‘Happy birthday Kaizer. Thanks to the Almighty God for keeping this icon up to now, as our country needs torchbearers like him,’ Madida told the Kaizer Chiefs official website.

‘As a person, Kaizer is the epitome of an immensely successful person, who has stayed humble. It’s easy to have a chat with him and he understands the man in the street. He’s far from aloof. Kaizer is a man of the people.

‘It’s that personality that has attracted so many people to Kaizer Chiefs and that’s why the club always plays at home, even when playing on the road, because of the immense support it attracts countrywide. Kaizer is the glue that keeps the supporters and the club together.’

Meanwhile, former Chiefs captain Neil Tovey added: ‘Kaizer doesn’t like people making too much of his birthday.

‘People always say that a person gets wiser and wiser with each birthday, which would mean that we can still expect a lot of the man who founded Kaizer Chiefs.

‘Kaizer built an empire, as that’s what the club is. It must be extremely pleasant for him to see how everything came together after the club was founded on 7 January 1970. Because when Kaizer Chiefs started, he probably never realised how big the club would become.

‘Kaizer is a remarkable person and I wish that he will continue to contribute to South African football. I wish him a healthy year, as that’s what is important in life.’

Photo: Kaizer Chiefs website