Teko Modise

Teko Tsholofelo Modise (born 22 December 1982), nicknamed the General, the Navigator and Techno M, is a South African retired professional footballer, former Bafana Bafana captain who played as a midfielder and who is currently a staff member at Cape Town City Football Club.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest PSL players of all time, Modise's career began in the lower leagues of South African football with Ria Stars and City Pillars. During his time with the latter, he won the Mvela Golden League Player of the Season award, which earned him a move to top-flight side SuperSport United in 2006. The following season he joined local rivals Orlando Pirates with whom he spent six years, winning two PSL Footballer of the Year awards, including the inaugural award, and two club honors. Whilst at Pirates, he earned the nickname "the General" for his ability to direct play and soon became a regular within the national team set-up.

Following a falling-out with club management in 2011, he transferred to Mamelodi Sundowns where he spent a further six years and won no fewer than five club titles. He also captained the side for the 2012–13 season. In 2017, he chose not to renew his contract with the club, electing instead to sign for Cape Town City where he remained until his retirement in 2019.

Modise also made 66 appearances for the South Africa national team between 2007 and 2012, and represented the nation at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, and 2010 FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Early life Modise was born in Meadowlands, South Africa. He is the youngest of three siblings and was raised by his mother in Diepkloof, Soweto. He was introduced to football as a toddler through his father who was a Kaizer Chiefs supporter, but lost contact with him when he was ten years old. During his formative years that followed, he played for local amateur sides Coventry and City Rebels before joining Ria Stars at the age of seventeen.

City Pillars Following the termination of his contract with Ria Stars, Modise signed for Mvela Golden League side City Pillars.

Supersport United In August 2006, he returned to the PSL when he signed for SuperSport United, managed at the time by Bafana Bafana assistant coach Pitso Mosimane. The following season, he led Pirates to a runners-up finish in the league, losing out on goal difference to SuperSport United, and in the Telkom Knockout. His form during the course of the season saw him retain the PSL Footballer of the Year and SAFA Footballer of the Year awards and also earned him the Player's Player of the Season title.

Modise's local success caught the attention of a number of foreign clubs and in the off-season he was linked with a move to Premier League sides Aston Villa, Man City and Wigan. Modise had no buyout clause in his contract, however, and the club refused to sell him, resulting in his relationship with coach Ruud Krol and chairman Irvin Khoza souring in the two year's that followed. He was suspended for boycotting training in 2011, later revealing that he had done so because of the way the club had treated him.

Mamelodi Sundowns Following Pirates' decision to discipline Modise, speculation was rife that he would leave the club, and on 27 January 2011 he signed for rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.

At the end of the 2014–15 season, in which he made 32 appearances across all competitions and scored eight times, he was named Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament and PSL Midfielder of the Season. Modise ultimately amassed over 150 appearances across all competitions for the club and in his final season was part of the squad which won CAF Champions League, after a 3–1 aggregate win over Egyptian side Zamalek.

On 27 June 2017, he was released from his contract by Mamelodi Sundowns. During his time with the club, in which he earned a reported R450 000 per month, he won no fewer than six trophies, including two PSL titles, the Nedbank Cup, Telkom Knockout, CAF Champions League and CAF Super Cup.

Cape Town City Having been a free agent for less than a month, Modise signed for fellow PSL side Cape Town City on 12 July 2017. He made his debut on 23 August, coming on as a substitute for Mpho Matsi and scoring Cape Town City's third goal in a 3–1 win over Platinum Stars.

International career Having not previously represented South Africa at age group level, Modise made his debut for the South Africa national team on 26 May 2007 against Malawi in the 2007 COSAFA Cup. He scored his first international goals against Mauritius during the tournament, which South Africa ultimately went on to win. He was then selected for the 2010 FIFA World Cup which was hosted by South Africa the following, but drew criticism after poor performances in the opening two matches. Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira dropped him for the subsequent match against France, which South Africa won 2–1.

Post-playing career After retiring at the end of the 2018–19 season, Modise continued at Cape Town City working at the offices of the club.

In September 2021, Modise returned to Chloorkop, where he spent arguably the most successful period of his playing career. He was named as a Sundowns ambassador, alongside former teammate Tiyani 'Shuga' Mabunda. Securing the Bag: Teko Is Mzansi’s Hardest Working Man

Modise also currently works as a matchday analyst for Suspersport TV

Outside football Endorsements During his time with Orlando Pirates, Modise was appointed ambassador by global company McDonald's for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and also served as an ambassador for Coca-Cola, Nike, Telkom and Samsung. While sponsored by Nike, Modise was one of only ten global stars selected by the sportswear manufacturer to wear a limited edition pink Mercurial SuperFly boot. His global contemporaries included Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Didier Drogba, amongst others. In 2015, Modise left Nike and signed a sponsorship deal with Adidas.

In 2016, while playing for Manchester City, Modise became a brand ambassador for motor vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen which saw him receive a 2016 Golf GTI. Following his move to Cape Town City the following year he was endorsed by Lexus.

Personal life In 2007, following his move to Orlando Pirates, Modise allegedly made a plea to be reunited with his father. He later denied the reports on local radio station, Radio 702. The reports nonetheless drew widespread media interest and saw Kenneth Ngobani, a resident of the surrounding township, claim that while he was not Modise's father, he had raised him after his step-father had kicked him out of the home he lived in with his mother. He claimed further that Modise's mother had not visited him during this time and that he had groomed him into the soccer player he would later become.

Modise married his wife, Felicia, in 2010 in a marriage in community of property and they share a daughter together. After a protracted sage during which Modise was threatened with jail time for failure to pay maintenance, the couple divorced in 2013. Following the separation, Modise began a relationship with model Lizelle Tabane. Modise later proposed to Tabane but the engagement was broken in 2015 after rumours of infidelity surfaced against her. The following year, Modise was forced to sell his home in the West Rand to a private buyer after he had defaulted on bond payments for a number of months. In terms of the agreement, he was allowed to continue residing at the property.

In 2017, Modise released a tell-all book, The Curse of Teko Modise, which highlighted rituals performed at his former club Orlando Pirates, among other revelations.

In October 2021, Modise married influencer Koketso "Kokieberry" Chipane and the two are expecting their first child together. However, they had had a traditional wedding in 2018.

Career statistics

International goals Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Modise goal.

Honours Mamelodi Sundowns Premier Soccer League: 2013–14, 2015–16 Nedbank Cup: 2015 Telkom Knockout: 2015 CAF Champions League: 2016 CAF Super Cup: 2017

Orlando Pirates MTN 8: 2010 Telkom Charity Cup: 2008, 2009

Cape Town City MTN 8: 2018

South Africa COSAFA Cup: 2007

Individual Mvela Golden League Player of the Season: 2005–06 PSL Footballer of the Year: 2008, 2009 COSAFA Cup Player of the Tournament: 2007 PSL Midfielder of the Season: 2015 Nedbank Cup: Player of the Tournament: 2015 Football Player of the decade - RSA: Setshaba Thamaga Independent Awards: 2017