By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former 2010 Fifa World Cup bid and local organising committee communications head, Jermaine Craig. Picture: Twitter/X.
Footballers, sports bodies, fans, politicians and the family of respected sports journalist and former 2010 Fifa World Cup bid local organising committee communications head Jermaine Craig gathered for his send-off on Thursday.
The memorial was hosted by Kaizer Chiefs at the Presidential Suite at the FNB Stadium.
Programme director, sports journalist, and radio and TV presenter, Robert Marawa described Craig as a man of compassion, filled with humility, a man who lived for his family and someone who was dedicated to his craft.
Family, friends, and colleagues were told Craig was a massive supporter of Liverpool, Kaizer Chiefs, and Bafana Bafana.
The line-up of speakers included former and current colleagues, friends and partner and even a representative from the NBA, the US basketball league and La Liga, the Spanish football league.
All shared the sentiment of his amazing smile, his love for sport, his humility and dedication for his craft.
He was also described as a mentor who took many under his wing and his love for nicknames was laughed about. Everyone described a special name he had given them.
President of the South African Football Association (Safa), Danny Jordaan described Craig as a man full of life.
Jordaan spoke highly of his time working alongside Craig as the country prepped for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
“Jermaine is someone who changed the perception of this country to the world. I have had many interactions with him even before World Cup.Jermaine is a journalist with no vendetta or malice against the next person. His journalistic integrity was without question. It was never headlines over his reader, “Jordaan said.
He described Craig’s journalistic ethics as beyond measure.
“Jermaine had true humanity. He knew ubuntu in his bones,” Jordaan said.
Craig worked for The Star newspaper for many years as a senior sports reporter during a journalism career in which he won numerous awards and later served in an editorial capacity.
He also worked for the 2009 Fifa Confederation Cup and 2010 World Cup LOC in various roles in media, including as head of communications.
At the time of his death Craig was a media officer for the Confederation of African Football (Caf), where he worked at Mamelodi Sundowns matches and was a consultant for a number of companies. He also founded his own media firm, Craig Communications.
His funeral service will take place on Saturday, December 9, at the Bryanston Methodist Church at 115 Grosvenor Road in Bryanston, Johannesburg from 9am to 12pm.
Watch Live in the video below:
Video Courtesy of Global Streams.