Kungwane gets moving eulogy
ALEXANDRA- Three stop sports complex in Alexandra yesterday, reverberated to the name Shakes as maltitudes paid their last respect at the memorial service of the late legendary soccer player Isaac Kungwane.
Three Square sports complex in Alexandra reverberated to the name Shakes as multitudes paid their last respects at the memorial service of the late legendary soccer player Isaac ‘Shakes’ Kungwane on 5 June.
The mourners included soccer administrators, referees, present and former soccer players, Kaizer chiefs and Alexandra United football clubs players, and supporters, provincial and national government officials including the minister of sports Fikile Mbalula.
Eulogies were said which relived Kungwane’s glory days on the soccer field and as a humble, friendly person to everyone including children, and in particular aspiring soccer players.
They all affirmed his dribbling wizardry and said he was a marvel to watch on the soccer pitch. His mentor, former neighbour in Alexandra and retired referee, Sylvester Ndaba said Kungwane had tried refereeing, but soon discovered his soccer talent overshadowed his ability with the whistle.
“He was also an asset to society in other ways, specially on wellness issues where he was an ambassador for a South African Breweries programme on HIV/Aids, substance and sexual abuse, and for youth on how to be real men,” said Ndaba.
Moss Selolo, life president of the Alexandra football association urged the mourners to rather celebrate and preserve Kungwane’s legacy by encouraging youths with talent in any sport to pursue them as careers to a better life.
One of Kungwane’s proteges and SuperSport football club player, Lebohang Manyama thanked Kungwane for exposing him to his talent. “We should celebrate his being and for uniting South Africans from all walks of life during his career and in death, and retain his legacy for the future generations,” he said.
A friend and former team-mate in various clubs, Ceasar Maphalla who broke down in the middle of his speech, said Kungwane had made him realise his talent and the value for humaneness.”Shakes personified honesty, generosity and was exemplary,” he said. “Many soccer players’ professional careers were shaped around him.”
The chairperson of National Football Supporters Association and ardent Kaizer Chief supporter, Saddam Maake who befriended Kungwane when he was still a budding soccer player, said Kungwane knew the intricacies of the beautiful game when he was very young which helped him to play it with ease.
Kungwane will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Fafung, Brits.
