Music scuppered chance to play for Kaizer Chiefs

By Andile Dladla and Madla Dladla

Thandukwazi “Demor” Sikhosana could have easily pursued a career in football but the sound of music proved too strong for him as he has become one of the biggest and well respected music producer and songwriter in the country based in Johannesburg.

A founding member of legendary music group Shana along with Nkosinathi “Black Coffee” Maphumulo and Mnqobi “Shota” Mdabe, the group is responsible for giving us hits like “Ung’phul ntliziyo” and Demor has produced and discovered some of the finest musicians we have in the country like Bucie Radebe and Sun-El Musician.

Born in the small but rich farming town in Mooi River in KwaZulu Natal, he grew up like most boys playing soccer with other kids using a grotesque object made of plastic, newspapers and wrapped with a woman’s stocking, he was considered more than average in juggling the round object.

And elders within the community which is not far from where Mabhuti Khenyeza grew up in Lion’s River, actually predicted that Sikhosana was blessed with the talent and ability to crack it in professional football.

But it is true that music and football are intertwined and while playing football and building friendships with his buddies, he supported Kaizer Chiefs but also discovered his deep love for music.

“Football is very big in and around Mooi River where we stage tournaments during the holiday period and festive seasons organized by local business people in the community and over the years the town has produced very good players,” says Sikhosana.

“Players like Mabhuti Khenyeza hails not far from us as he comes from Lions River and guys like him even and Sibusiso “Rhee” Zuma participated in these annual tournaments.

“Life has taken a different shift altogether during these trying times and the Corona pandemic has completely changed our lives forever.”

As far back as he can remember, the province has always had very strong teams like AmaZulu, Durban City, Bush Bucks, African Wanderers and Durban City All Blacks, but throughout the years the teams have always struggled against their inland rivals.

He feels the reason why professionals in the province found the going extremely hard in the past, to poor management more than anything, but is excited that the situation is changing for the better in recent years.

Maritzburg United have done exceptionally well during the last couple of years while Lamontville Golden Arrows surprised all and sundry with their fourth finish in the season that has just ended. But kudos to AmaZulu who finished as runners up behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

Amazulu who are endorsed and supported by the Royal family and has always been a huge brand, have qualified to take part in the CAF Champions League for the first time in the 89-years history of the club.

It had also been a good strategy for Amazulu over the years to align themselves with the late King Goodwill Zwelithini but it had been a sad and painful loss when the King, who had contributed so much towards the development of sport in the area, passed on early this year.

“The late Scara “Black Jesus” Ngobese once approached us (myself, Shota & Black Coffee) while performing at a Kaizer Chiefs game and said ‘are you guys the Shana that sings the song: “Banger” featuring the late Lebo Mathosa?” We replied in the positive and he said: “I love that song because it motivates me.”

Sikhosana revealed that contrary to popular belief, when they enter the studio they do not have specific people or an individuals in mind when creating a song but one are inspired and motivated by surroundings that occur at a certain time.

“Music is a calling just like sports and guys like legendary Doctor “16V” Khumalo would not have become the icon that we know him to be if it wasn’t a for his calling.

As a die-hard Chiefs supporter Sikhosana like millions of Amakhosi supporters have endured six, painful and barren years but is hopeful that things would change and even believes they could wrestle the DStv championship from the grasp of Sundowns this year.

He is motivated by the signing of players like Cole Alexander, Keagan Dolly and Njabulo Ngcobo to mention just a few and Stuart Baxter back in charge, assisted by Arthur Zwane and Dillon Shepherd, Sikhosana is of the view that better days are coming.

Demor have released a new song called “Khathazile” and it’s available on all digital platforms.

As a legend he has created a platform called “The Put On” where he features up and coming talent hoping that their careers will get somewhere as he has done for so many others before.