Bobby Motaung remembers Alex Shakoane's days with Kaizer Chiefs

SPORT

Not many people knew, but Alex Shakoane had a stint with Kaizer Chiefs before the late official gained popularity at Mamelodi Sundowns.

This bit was shared by Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung, who also recalled the days when Shakoane used to take him to school.

“I grew up under Bra Alex and enjoyed his love. Alex is from Kaizer Chiefs. The reason he and Sundowns had this charisma, they took it from Chiefs,” Motaung told the mourners during Shakoane's memorial service in Mameldoi township in Pretoria on Thursday.

Reminisced Motaung:

Shakoane had not been well after he suffered a stroke. He passed away on Sunday. He was 67.

Tlhopie Motsepe, who succeeded his father, CAF president Patrice Motsepe as the club’s chairperson, said his dad returned home from a business conference overseas after hearing about Shakoane’s death.

Said Tlhopie: “Sundowns has lost a legend, a leader in our football club. We’ve lost an icon and a pillar. He was so special.

“His ability to talk was unparalleled. It was unmatched. When he got on a roll, he was unstoppable. And most of us in the audience never wanted him to stop. He would make people want to go to the stadium because he had a way with people. He lived a life well spent. May his soul rest in peace and his memory live forever.”

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Safa president Danny Jordaan urged the Sundowns players to go all the way in the CAF Champions League for Shakoane.

Sundowns players and coaches followed the memorial service on a live stream from Morocco, where they are preparing to take on titleholders Wydad Athletic Club in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Saturday night.

“When you listen to people describing Alex, he was charismatic. He was a people’s person. He was a nation builder, something that is needed in this time in our country," said Jordaan.

Shakoane will be laid to rest on Tuesday.