Calvin Le John, the new owner of Siwelele FC and son of Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, has opened up about why he never took his father’s surname. In his first interview since taking over the football club, Le John revealed that his mother chose to give him her maiden name to distance him from his father’s past.
At the time of Le John’s birth, McKenzie was serving a 17-year prison sentence for armed robbery. “She didn’t want her child to grow up with the surname of a prisoner,” he told Robert Marawa on 947. “I never changed it, and as I grew up, I felt it was a blessing—it allowed me to carve my own path outside my father’s shadow.”
Despite keeping a separate surname, Le John expressed deep respect for his father, calling him a mentor and role model. “My father taught me everything I know. His journey proves that anyone can turn their life around,” he said.
Le John also addressed speculation that McKenzie played a role in his acquisition of Siwelele FC (formerly SuperSport United). The minister has denied involvement, stating that his son owns the club outright. “He bought it himself—there’s no consortium, no hidden deals,” McKenzie said in a Facebook Live.
Le John, who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, emphasized that he wants to succeed on his own merits. “I don’t trade on the McKenzie name,” he said. “I just want to build something for myself.”