Jessica Motaung: Football royalty carving her own path
Writing her own legacy: Jessica Motaung, Kaizer Chiefs’ marketing director, has built her own legacy in South African football through hard work, vision, and determination. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
Being the daughter of Kaizer Chiefs founder and chairman Kaizer Motaung, Jessica Motaung is football royalty in South Africa. But despite her family legacy, the Chiefs’ marketing director has worked hard to be where she is today.
Growing up, the world of football was never far from her everyday life. She had a front-row seat to the early years of one of Africa’s most iconic football institutions. Watching the passion of players, coaches, and supporters gave her an early understanding of the deep cultural impact Chiefs had on millions of South Africans.
Yet being born into such a legacy came with its own pressures. Many assumed her path was paved with privilege because of the family she was born into, but Jessica has had to prove herself every step of the way. Rather than letting those perceptions define her, she used them as fuel – determined to show that her success comes from hard work and ability, not inheritance.
“Well, I think I'm fortunate to be born around football. I think when I look at my childhood, we had some of South Africa's top stars, like Teenage Dladlas, the Ace Ntsoelengoes, the Doctor Khumalos, and the Lucas Radebes. And I can speak about players up until now. I have been privileged,” she tells IOL.
“But certainly, to grow up with a parent who was fully involved in the business, established the business, established the game here in South Africa, was a great privilege. Sometimes you don't realise until you get older what you're a part of.”
Her love – and sometimes hate – for the game has been a constant in her life.
“My father was very, very involved in the business, so sometimes I didn't see him. I had a love for the people who are involved in the game. I mean, our supporters as well. And also, watching my brother [Chiefs’ sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr] play the game made me fall in love with it even more.”
Having grown up surrounded by the country’s biggest football club, one might assume joining the sport was an easy decision for her.
“Did I want to get into the business? Yes and no,” she said. “I was very rebellious growing up, and wanted to do my own thing. I was also an entrepreneur and built some businesses before I came and worked in the family business.”
In 2003, she finally decided to join the family business and has since experienced countless highs. When asked about her favourite moments, she says:
“It’s unfair to ask me to choose just one. It’s like asking me which derby is the best derby. It's like ask your parent, which is your favourite child? I think all of them have been sensational, you know.
“There was a time we were just lifting and lifting trophies, you know, but certainly when we did reclaiming the glory and really came back at a time when Stuart Baxter was the coach, I think that was very, very exciting. This last Nedbank Cup, after many years of not winning, was just absolutely amazing. But I must say, I mean, to be part of a winning brand like this for many, many years has been incredible.
“We've had captains like Jimmy Tau. We've had captains like Itumeleng Khune lifting trophies, Cyril Nzama. I remember tournaments like the Vodacom Challenge, you know, playing against Manchester United, for example, and being the first African club to beat Man United on African soil.
“I mean, that was sensational. Yes, strange to go into a local stadium with so many Man United fans and a few Chiefs fans, but, you know, seeing the brand grow on the continent has been amazing.”
Since entering the game professionally, Jessica has faced challenges in what remains a very male-dominated industry.
“If you want to make it, you have to be excellent. You have to work hard. But I'm also a strong personality. You know, nothing was ever going to stop me, whatever I wanted to do. But I've been very, very diligent and very deliberate in terms of my approach and in terms of my commitment to the work. But it's male-dominated. It hasn't been an easy journey. I've been in boardrooms. I've been the only woman in boardrooms for many, many years.
“It hasn't been easy. But I've also had the support of many men and other women who have made it easy for me to assimilate into the space. But, yes, it's not been without its challenges and obstruction.”
IOL Sport