I recently communicated with Kenneth Mokgojoa and asked him if he had any particular story that stood out from his days with the Diplomats. Expecting to get something related to a match, he sent this:
“Jim, the story I
remember is that it was after the night game in Washington against the Tampa
Bay Rowdies and we indulged in drinking after the game (1979, the Dips won
5-1). I opted to take one lady at her home after the party. I had enough to drink.
What happened next, I was driving on the wrong side of the road. There was a
car coming in the opposite direction and it overtook me. We nearly hit head on!
What followed was a
police siren. It stopped me and gave me a test to see how much I had to drink. I
tried to plead with them, telling them that I am an international player for
the Washington Diplomats. They could not take my story and locked me in jail. The
following day I went to court and I pretended that I could not understand
English. I didn't answer any questions and there was no one who understood my
language. That is how I escaped severe punishment. Although my driver license
was suspended, and I was referred to the Alcoholics Anonymous organization!”
