Lucas Radebe, keynote speaker, sporting celebrity. Lucas' contribution has been two-fold: leadership and performance. He was recognised as one of the finest defenders in the Premier League, and earned universal respect from players and fans.

That status was light years removed from his upbringing. Growing up in Diepkloof Zone Four in Soweto township outside Johannesburg, Radebe was regularly witness to violent incidents.

His breakthrough came in 1989, when talent scouts spotted him and signed him up to play for one of Africa's most glamorous clubs, Kaizer Chiefs.

Thebe Mabanga, in the Mail & Guardian, writes that South African fans remember Radebe in his Kaizer Chiefs days as "a lanky, flamboyant central midfielder who switched to central defence with ease, snuffing out any opposition threat with exquisite, acrobatic scissor kicks and diving headers, and man-marking the most lethal strikers into silence"

Off the field, Radebe's contribution on the field of play extended way beyond the conventional boundaries for South African and African footballers. His success had a lot to do with making players from Africa more marketable; now every Premiership scout is searching for the next Lucas Radebe.

Lucas Radebe, keynote speaker, sporting celebrity. Lucas' contribution has been two-fold: leadership and performance. He was recognised as one of the finest defenders in the Premier League, and earned universal respect from players and fans.

That status was light years removed from his upbringing. Growing up in Diepkloof Zone Four in Soweto township outside Johannesburg, Radebe was regularly witness to violent incidents.

His breakthrough came in 1989, when talen