Longest-serving Sundowns official Alex Tshakoane hailed as greatest

The funeral service of the late Louis “Alex” Tshakoane will be held next week Tuesday in Pretoria.

This was according to the Mamelodi Sundowns club’s media coordinator Daisy Kgopa.

Tshakoane died on Sunday.

The cause of death is unknown at this stage.

Tlhopie Motsepe, Mamelodi Sundowns chairman described Alex as an effervescent and iconic figure of the club.

“The Motsepe family, the board, the supporters, and all the members of the Mamelodi Sundowns family mourn and are deeply saddened by the passing of Alex ‘Goldfinger’ Shakoane whom we all loved dearly.

“His life was all about Mamelodi Sundowns and we will miss his unique contributions and larger-than-life personality,” said Motsepe.

Alex’s media colleagues hailed him as one of the greatest men in the history of South African Football.

A sports analyst and producer Mmasekepe Matsebane remembered Tshakoane as someone who was welcoming to his peers and even those who were younger than him.

“Bro Alex will be missed, not only by his team Mamelodi Sundowns, but by the South African football fraternity as a whole. His contribution to it is something that will not be forgotten in a flash but will remain a lasting legacy,” Matsebane said.

Kaizer Chiefs spokesperson Vina Maphosa said the passing of Tshakoane was a sad moment for the football fraternity.

“Tshakoane had a larger-than-life personality, he is the guy that made me fell in love with football, as I grew up in Mamelodi I grew up looking out to him.

“He played his part to the fullest, and some of us who are still in the space will really not have it easy to fill his shoes,” Mmaphosa said.

He said he will be remembered for his wittiness and his love for gold chains and rings, as he was famously referred to as the “Goldfinger”.

Tshakoane, a former policeman, served in the club in various capacities, with two spells as their communications officer.

He was serving as the club’s supporter mobilisation manager at the time of his passing.

Tshakoane pioneered the role of uniting the fans of their clubs at stadiums on match days.

Sundowns have led the tributes to Tshakoane and sent their condolences to his family.

Tshakoane had been with the club from its formative years in the 1970s to date. He has been a loyal servant of football in Mamelodi, Tshwane, and the whole of South Africa.

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