WeeklySA_AdminCONDOLENCES:Former Bafana coach succumbs to bullet injuries in hospital
By Sports Reporter
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has sent condolences to the family of late former Bafana Bafana coach Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala.
The much-loved former player, coach and administrator’s passing was confirmed by his club Orlando Pirates on Thursday. “The Tshabalala and Orlando Pirates Family is announcing the sad and untimely passing of Stanley Tshabalala this afternoon in hospital,” said the club in a statement.
Tshabalala, or Bra Stan as referred to by everybody who was 75-years-old and originally from Orlando East, died as a result of complications from a shooting at his home in Centurion in March when he was attacked by intruders.
The Tshabalala and Orlando Pirates Family will furnish the details in due course. The public is advised to await the provision of the details for the arrangements going forward.” The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach and ex-Kaizer Chiefs Talent Scout and Development Co-Ordinator was very successful and was highly respected as a South African football legend.
SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan said Tshabalala made a huge mark for the country and at club level. “I wish to extend my sincerest condolences to the family of Stanley Tshabalala and we are praying for them to be comforted.
May God grant the family healing during this difficult time. This news is such a shock and we as SAFA would like to convey our deepest sympathy and heartfelt sorrow to his family, friends and the club during this difficult time,” said the SAFA President.
PIANO AND SHOESHINE
Tshabalala, who passed away on Thursday, coined the phrase ‘piano and shoeshine’ to describe his team’s style of play and it quickly became part of the local football lexicon, says Supersport sports commentator/writer Mark Gleeson.
He had been part of the domestic football landscape for more than half century, one of the founder members of Kaizer XI which became Chiefs and playing for them in their first season in the new National Professional Soccer League in 1971. He quickly earned the nickname ‘Screamer’ because of his incessant shouting for the ball.
‘SCREAMER’
His career began as a 19-year-old at Orlando Preston Brothers some three years before the NPSL and, after Chiefs, he played for Pimville United Brothers, African Wanderers, Vaal Professional and Pirates.
His coaching career began as far back as 1974 and in the most inauspicious circumstances. He was asked to be player coach of struggling Hammarsdale-outfit African Wanderers at the start of the season and lost his first match in charge 10-1, which is still Chiefs’ record win to this day. He was still Soweto-based and travelling up and down to Durban for training and games quicky proved too difficult to maintain.
He went back to playing at Vaal Professionals and in 1976 joined Pirates, and also briefly went to the U.S to try his luck. His playing career effectively ended in 1977 with a bad leg break playing for the Buccaneers in a friendly against Alexandra Blackpool a day after Jomo Sono returned home to Pirates from his first season at New York Cosmos.
The next year, when Mario Tuani was fired, Tshabalala took over as Pirates coach and within weeks, he won his first trophy as the Buccaneers took the 1978 Champion of Champions title.
But it was to be another eight years begore he landed another high-profile post, this time at burgeoning Mamelodi Sundowns. The club had just been taken over by mysterious millionaire Zola Mahobe, later found to have ingeniously stolen money from Standard Bank, and the new owner wanted a charismatic figure at the helm of his team.
May his soul rest in peace.
