Balfour Park’s Greek Queens are dealt a severe blow with the death of their founder

One of the clubs at the forefront of the development of women’s soccer in the country and Gauteng in particular, Croesus Ladies, has been dealt a severe blow following the sudden death of its founding chairperson Edison Mbatha (46).

Mbatha, better known to the club and players as Coach Eric, collapsed and died at his home in Yeoville on 21 October after a few days of complaining about not feeling well to his team manager Maria Athanassouli who advised him to see a doctor.

Speaking to the North Eastern Tribune, Athanassouli said funeral arrangements for Mbatha’s burial had not been finalised as a postmortem was still being awaited. “Once this has been finalised, family members will advise on the burial date,” she added.

Coach Eric founded Croesus Ladies 18 years ago as a team that consisted of prostitutes living in Hillbrow and he wanted to get the young girls off the streets to play soccer. This also included other young girls from the area who started to join the team and at that time it was called Hillbrow Ladies.

He managed to get a sponsorship from one of the SPAR’s in the area, and the shop owner suggested the team be called Croesus Ladies (Croesus was a Greek king and hence the team is commonly referred to as Greek Queens) and the name has stuck with the now Balfour Park-based outfit.

Mbatha struggled financially to keep the team running and unfortunately funds eventually ran dry but with his incredible love for soccer, especially the development of women’s football, he continued to support the girls out of his own pocket.

“He slept, ate and talked all things football, that was his life. For girls that struggled with the sport, Eric would arrange lessons in his own time with no compensation and taught them to kick, pass and position themselves,” Athanassouli said.

She added that Mbatha loved Croesus and fought hard for the team. “I met Eric in 2006 when Katrina [Maguire, her daughter] joined the Sasol Women’s League team then based in Randburg. He approached me and asked if I could assist with the paperwork, which I agreed.

“A year later, Eric and I ran the team. It was difficult to get a sponsor, so I made an agreement with Eric that I would sponsor the team, and the team would then belong to me and I would continue assisting him, respect his thoughts and decisions and nothing would change for him. He agreed and we had a very good working relationship for 12 years.”

One of the qualities that Athanassouli said she liked about Mbatha was the fact that he never got involved romantically with any of his players. “He was single, born in Botswana and spoke about his sister and mother. He wished a better life for the girls in the team, and often spoke about a professional league for woman.”

After the team’s game on 19 October, Athanassouli said Mbatha complained about stomach pains. “He handed me our players cards and team sheets and told me to always look after the team. I gave him a lift to the taxi rank and later he phoned saying he was going to the clinic.

“On Sunday [20 October], he played soccer in the afternoon and later phoned me to say he felt a bit better, but would go back to the clinic on Monday morning. We talked about the team and had a good laugh. Monday morning I received a call at 6am to say that Eric had collapsed and died at his home.

“It was a shock that took me by surprise as I never expected that as he had told me he was feeling a bit better just yesterday. It’s a great loss to the soccer community and the team will never be the same without him. I still remember and will forever cherish his last message to me, to look after the team.”

Mbatha also owns two boys’ clubs, Polokwane Rovers and Black Mask which play under the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association. “Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family, friends, colleagues and club mates in this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace,” said the association’s secretary general, Malvin Khumalo.

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