A fitting send-off for ‘Screamer’

South Africans from all walks of life descended to the Grace Bible Church in Pimville, Soweto, today to pay their final respects to legendary football coach and administrator, Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala.

Dignitaries, including CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, Orlando Pirates chairman, Irvin Khoza, SAFA President, Danny Jordaan, and Sport Minister, Gayton McKenzie, were among those in attendance.

Tshabalala’s childhood friend and fellow coach, Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba, paid a moving tribute to “Screamer”.

“We grew up together and played for the same team, Orlando Preston Brothers, which was one of the best teams. We played together until we were identified by bigger teams. He was one of the people to start Kaizer Chiefs,” said the former Bafana Bafana coach.

Kaizer Chiefs legend, Doctor Khumalo, also remembered Tshabalala as a father figure and the man who gave him an opportunity at international level.

“He selected me to the national team, and I didn’t think. He was not given a fair deal as Bafana coach when we lost matches, but he was nurturing players,” said Khumalo.

[WATCH] Doctor Khumalo pays tribute to the late Bra Stanley ‘Screamer’ Tshabalala and reflects on their days in the Bafana Bafana team.#RIPBraStan pic.twitter.com/7o0Vs9Zmjz

— Ntsako Mkhari (@Ntsako_Mkhari_) July 18, 2024

Tshabalala, who worked at Pirates until his death, had been recovering after he was attacked and shot by burglars at his home in March.

He died last week Thursday at the age of 75 and was given a special provincial funeral. Written by Ntsako Mkhari