Much-loved coach killed after rival team loses match

The whole community of Umjindi is still reeling in shock after the brutal murder of one of the most committed community developers, Henry Maseko (51).
The death of Coach Nash, as he was popularly known in soccer circles, is by far the most shocking given the gruesome nature thereof. The soccer administrator, coach and parent, died on Sunday night at Extension 10 while he was on his way home with some of the youth players he had been coaching. According to eyewitnesses, he was stabbed once in the neck by a player of the team they had beaten earlier the day. The soccer match took place at Ka-John’s Sport Ground.

“We had played against the team and had beaten them 3-1. They didn’t want to accept that we have beaten them. While walking to our section (Extension 10) from the sports field (at Extension 10A), some of the team players and an official kept following us. When we approached the New Apostolic Church, a boy came from behind and stabbed him in the neck,” said one of the players who spoke to Barberton Times.
He said Maseko collapsed in front of them and they rushed to nearby homes to call for assistance. An ambulance was called but Maseko was declared dead on the scene.

A suspect was arrested by police the very same night (Sunday).
Coach Nash was the founder and owner of Status FC. His group comprised u/13s, u/15s, and u/17s as well as a senior team. He was also the founder of the Umjindi Developmental League, which catered for junior teams.

He was involved with soccer development and was selected at provincial and national level. At the time of his death, he was elected to lead the Mpumalanga Masters Team which was set to take part in the South African National Golden Oldies Games, which will take place during the first week of October in the Northern Cape.

Maseko leaves behind his three children – Sifiso, Thando, and Bohle, as well as three brothers and four sisters. His memorial service will take place at Emjindini Community Hall tomorrow (September 10) and the funeral will take place on Sunday at Emjindini. The venue and time were not yet confirmed at the time of going to print.

Maseko’s death sparked an outpour of grief in the community and sports fraternity. George Athanasopolous, South African Football Assocation’s (Safa) acting CEO in Ehlanzeni and head of development said, “I’m shocked and gutted. I can’t believe that such a committed coach is gone so soon. I appointed him a coordinator for u/13s in the region and the province and he was always executing his duties perfectly. Condolences from Safa Ehlanzeni to his family. May his soul rest in peace.”

Kaizer Zulu, Safa’s technical head of development in Umjindi, said he still couldn’t believe that Coach Nash was gone. “Yesterday (Sunday) I was with him in a meeting. Three hours later I received a call that he is dead. I can’t believe this. We will never get another committed coach in development that can spend the whole day in a sport field nurturing young talent like Coach Nash,” he said.

Bongani Mhlanga, secretary of the Ehlanzeni District Sports Federation, said, “Coach Nash was the head coach of the Ehlanzeni Golden Masters soccer male team that competed among the two other districts (Gert Sibande and Ekangala) in the province.
“His team (Ehlanzeni) was the overall winner of the tournament and he was chosen to be the head coach for Team Mpumalanga that was chosen during the tournament.

His untimely death met him as he was preparing to lead Team Mpumalanga to compete against other provincial teams in the country in Cape Town next month. May his soul rest in peace.”
Lungelo “Mambush” Mokone, owner of Barcelona 2022, said, “He was like a father to me in football. He took me from home and made me a coach for one of his developmental teams. My passion for football developed then and today I own my own team because of him”.
The suspect appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, September 8. At the time of going to print the verdict was still unknown.