Molala spent seven years in the infamous Robben Island prison that held Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president and Jacob Zuma, that nation's current president. Molala lost an eye during an assault by South African police following his 1985 prison release, effectively ending his soccer playing career.
Despite their once star-status Moosa and Molala both said they have been excluded from the World Cup spotlight that has raised the international stature of South Africa, the first African country to host the Cup since the inception of that international event in 1930.
"We are the pioneers and we are pushed aside," said Moosa, whose professional soccer career began at age 16 and lasted until he was 39.
Molala noted philosophically that, "History is always the history of those in charge. It is so political."
Moosa and Molala, both in their late fifties, remain active in the sport that defined their lives.
Moosa, a critic of the caliber of soccer in South Africa today, coaches and often plays soccer outshining players half his age.
One of Molala's many endeavors is training inmates to be soccer referees, an anti-crime initiative for both the prisoners and underprivileged youths they would work with.
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