WeeklySA_AdminONE-OF-A-KIND: South African football lovers from all walks of life bid farewell to legend Stanley Tshabalala…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana
The South African football legend Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala was laid to rest at Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg in a poignant ceremony steeped in both mourning and celebration.
Tshabalala died in hospital last Thursday, at the age of 75, after succumbing to injuries sustained when he was shot in his home in March.
His burial followed a nearly five-hour funeral service at Grace Bible Church in Pimville, Soweto, attended by – among other mourners – South African football lovers from all walks of life.
“Bra Stan”, as he was affectionately known, was buried next to his son, Tokollo “Magesh” Tshabalala who died in 2022.
Dignitaries who attended the service included Caf president Patrice Motsepe, Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza, SA Football Association president Danny Jordaan and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie.
Also in attendance were current and former footballers including Teboho Moloi, Mandla Sithole, Edward Motale, Doctor Khumalo, Mike Ntombela and soccer officials Bobby Motaung and Trott Moloto.
Paying homage to her husband, Henriatta, speaking via a video message, described him as a man who loved her “loudly and proudly”.
“I do not think there is a man that would have loved me the way Stan loved me. He respected me, he protected me, most people would not have known me, and he loved it that way.
“I loved him; I could not even see it. I was just like a zombie. I miss our morning talks because he made me laugh. I think he took the wrong career. He was supposed to be a comedian.”
His daughter, Dineo Tshabalala, said her father was a person who was loved by people.
“And whenever I would say ‘yes dad’, he would say ‘no love, do not call me dad, just say Bra Stan, you are old now; you cannot be calling me dad’.”
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie also paid tribute to the late coach.
“Nobody can survive without happiness, and the soccer fraternity has brought us happiness during the dark days of apartheid. For that, I want to salute each and every person who has been involved in soccer; you have been the one constant during our darkest days.”
Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi said Tshabalala cherished football.
“He was a special breed. He led us into uncharted waters when we knew layers of international football. Played when players were very few, coached when coaches were rare because football was his life.”
The legendary Tshabalala, who was a respected coach, scout, football administrator and worked at Orlando Pirates until his death. His many accomplishments include being a founding member of Kaizer Chiefs, while he later led Mamelodi Sundowns to various titles in the 80s. It was during that time that he fashioned a brand of play called “Piano and Shoeshine”.
Tshabalala was also Bafana Bafana’s first head coach after the country’s readmission to international football in 1992.
Born in Orlando East in Soweto in 1949, Tshabalala started his sporting life as a boxer, but found his true passion in football. He was always cheerful, outgoing and smiling, and was called Screamer because he always shouted incessantly for the ball on the field.
He also earned other nicknames while with Sundowns in the 1980s, where his style with the team earned him the monikers “Piano” and “Shoe-Shine”. – www.fullview.co.za
