Pirates pay tribute to club legend Jacobs

Orlando Pirates have paid tribute to the late former striker Alfred Jacobs who wore the black and white jersey during the 1960s and 1970s.


The late Buccaneer featured in the team’s 1968 squad, which is considered to be one of the best in the club’s history playing alongside Percy ‘Chippa’ Moloi, , the Khoza twins, Bernard ‘Dancing Shoes’ Hartze, Rashid Khan, Ralph ‘Ndabazabantu’ Hendricks, Hans Moses and Gerard van der Haar.

“It is with great sadness that we learnt of the passing away of Alfred Jacobs. ‘Russia’, as he was affectionately known, was admitted to the Phekolong Hospital in Bethlehem, Free State last week where he later succumbed to his illness on July 7 – he was 78,” read a statement on the Pirates website.

“Mr Jacobs, who was known for his exceptional skills and eye for goal scoring inherited the nickname ‘From Russia with Love’ from the 60s hit song ‘From Russia with Love’. His goals were a gift of love to the supporters.”

“This multi-cultural squad defied many odds during a time when it was an unacceptable thing to do so. We convey our heartfelt and deepest sympathy to the Jacobs family and pledge our profound moral support.”

The club stated that details of the funeral will be out at a later stage.