VEREENIGING.- “School Sports will never be the same again.”
These were the words of the mourners who came to pay their last respects to Sello “Zillo” Tshabalala (67). Bra Zillo, as he was affectionately known was laid to rest at Vanderbijlpark cemetery on Saturday.
His moving funeral service was held at a packed Vereeniging Civic Hall.
Tshabalala passed on at Pretoria Hospital on January 5. He leaves behind his wife Maria, and two daughters, Lerato and Thato.
His funeral was attended by his former colleagues at Mohloli Secondary School, learners, the Department of Education, Gauteng School Sports and football representatives. Apart from being a teacher, Tshabalala was passionate about football.
Mohloli Secondary School conquered school football under his leadership as the school sports coordinator. This was before he retired after serving the school for 38 years as a teacher. Mohloli Secondary School’s former principal, Ntate Mokone paid a moving tribute to Tshabalala.
Mokone said the role Tshabalala played at the school as a teacher will never go unnoticed. To make it interesting, Mokoene said, Tshabalala was also his student as a teacher at Lekoa-Shandu Secondary School.
“When Tshabalala and one of the teachers came to look for a job here at Mohloli Secondary School, I never hesitated to hire them because I knew what they were capable of. Tshabalala changed this school because of his passion for teaching black children. He was committed and loved his job,” said Mokone.
Thabo Langa from the District Department of Education Sports said Tshabalala’s contribution to school sports will never be forgotten. He told the mourners that Tshabalala was a true leader who always hands-on.
His sentiments were also echoed by the Gauteng Department School Football Association representative, Twice Makhotla. Tebello Kheswa who worked as a coach at Mohloli Secondary said since the departure of Tshabalala at school football is no longer the same. Kheswa told the mourners about the school’s achievement in football during Tshabalala’s time.
His wife, children, and grandchildren also paid a moving tribute to their husband, father,
and grandfather.
