Lucas Radebe’s journey from Soweto shooting survivor to Leeds icon and World Cup captain | OneFootball

Lucas Radebe rose from Soweto hardship and a near-fatal 1991 shooting to captain South Africa at two World Cups, becoming a Leeds United great. He began at Kaizer Chiefs before moving to Elland Road, where he made more than 250 appearances.

In 1991, he was shot at random while in his car on a shopping run for his mother in Soweto. “That day had started just like any other. I realised I’d been shot.” He told FourFourTwo.

“But, miraculously, when the doctors started to examine me, they found the bullet had only gone through the flesh and managed to miss all of my vital organs.”

“When I was recovering from surgery in the hospital, my first question to the doctors was, ‘Am I going to be able to play football again?’”

He recovered swiftly and joined Leeds with Phil Masinga in 1994. The £250,000 signing remains among the club’s best-value deals, and he later said the shooting influenced his exit despite National Soccer League titles in 1989, 1991 and 1992.

He led Leeds to consecutive top-four Premier League finishes and the 2000/01 Champions League semi-finals.

Radebe earned 70 caps, won AFCON in 1996 and captained his country at World Cup 1998 and World Cup 2002, when they were knocked out in the knockout stages.

Now 57, he will be hoping South Africa reach the knockout rounds this summer as they face hosts Mexico in the World Cup opener on June 11, a reverse of 2010’s first game.

Source: Leeds Live