Newly appointed Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture Gayton McKenzie is at it again. This time, vowing that in his tenure, legends will play an integral part in South African football.
McKenzie was delivering a speech on behalf of his ministry and President Cyril Ramaphosa at the funeral of the late renowned football administrator Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala at the Grace Bible Church in Pimville, Soweto on Thursday morning.
Tshabalala passed away at the age of 75 last week Thursday. He succumbed to wounds he sustained during an attack at his home by unknown shooters in March.
Tshabalala touched many lives during apartheid
The outspoken sports minister said despite not getting an opportunity to meet Tshabalala in person, he felt and knew his work. Especially during the days of apartheid.
“I didn’t know Bra Stan personally, but I knew his work. There are so many of us who are known but nobody knows their work. And [there are] celebrities who have nothing to show for what they have done for people,” McKenzie said.
“Today I am standing here for a man that I’ve never met but his work touched me. I can testify that his life was well lived.
“Many of us like to say, ‘I want to change the world’ and I say leave the world, and change your corner. You want to change the world, but you don’t even have a passport. Just change your corner. And if everyone changed their corner, the world would be a better place.
“The football fraternity brought joy to us during the darkest days of apartheid. And for that, I want to salute every person that has been involved in football.”
Recently, McKenzie met with the SA Football Association president Daddy Jordaan. The meeting was to discuss some of the deliverables for the senior national teams.
All SA football legends to get involved in improving the sport
He added by detailing one of his mandates in his tenure. The minister said one such, is to ensure that all SA football legends get involved in improving the sport.
“I met with Safa, and we spoke frankly, openly, robustly. And we set the deliverables that we must qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup. Those are not even great achievements. But entry-level achievements for a nation like ours that loves sport,” he said.
“And I saw a lot of legends here [at the funeral] and I am now saying to them that your time has come. I am going to recognise the legends. And they are going to play an integral part in the football of this country.
“So, I will say to you and to all of us today that we need, we must and will treat our football legends better going forward.”
McKenzie’s remarks come at the back of many calls for former Bafana Bafana and Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe to take over from Jordan as Safa president.
Some of the legends who were present at the funeral were Doctor Khumalo, Edward “Magents” Motale, and Teboho Moloi.
