Football legends share high praise
Mike 'Nanana' Ntombela encouraged young players to look upon the legends and ensure they emulate them in the game.
South Africa’s late football legend, Moffat ‘Killer’ Zuma, who was born in Mtwalume scored goals as if they were going out of fashion. This sentiment was shared by another legend of the game, Mike ‘Nanana’ Ntombela.
Ntombela, who played for Mamelodi Sundowns FC in his heyday was at the launch of the Moffat Zuma Tournament at Dazela Guesthouse in Mtwalume recently.
Although he was not physically present, the organisers virtually connected with him from his home in Gauteng.
He encouraged young players to look upon the legends and ensure they emulate them in the game. He said he had the privilege to watch the last ‘Killer’ playing the beautiful game.
“’Killer’ was a marvellous player, a goal scoring machine. He would score goals every day, a great striker. I remember a time I went to Wits University’s training ground to see Mike Mangena whom I knew as the first black player to play for Wits. He told me he was not the first, but it was ‘Killer’,” he said.
He broke the darkness of footballers’ separation through skin colour when he became the first black player to play for Durban City as well as for Wits.
Tournament organiser, Busani Mpanza, said the aim is to make the tournament an annual event, with scouts from professional clubs. He said it was fitting to respect and honour the fallen hero, ‘Killer’.
“Zuma is part of our heritage. The tournament we are hosting under his name, we hope it will inspire young footballers to grow in the game. We are fortunate, we will be visited by Amazulu FC,” said Mpanza.
The tournament is billed to take place on the weekend of April 25 and comprises 16 clubs.
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