By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Kaizer Chiefs legend Jackie “Asinamali” Masike was laid to rest on Friday, 27 December, at West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg.
The funeral service was held at the Uncle Tom’s Hall in Orlando West, Soweto.
He died at age 78 on 19 December at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
The hall was filled with football greats, including Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba, Joseph “Banks” Setlhodi, and Walter Mabeba, who all came to pay their respects.
Setlhodi shared an emotional tribute, expressing gratitude for their lifelong friendship.
“To speak about someone you’ve spent so many years with is not easy. Jackie, thank you for choosing me to be your friend for all these years. This is the end of the road for us, and though you’ve left us physically, I know your spirit is still here. You’ve left an indelible mark as a player, a leader, and a founding member of this club,” Setlhodi said.
Masike was a member of the original Kaizer XI in the nascent days of Chairman, Kaizer Motaung’s dream and over the next 12 years, played a noteworthy role in growing Amakhosi into the behemoth it had already become in the early 1980s.
Born in Sophiatown in 1946, Masike grew up in Moletsane where he took up the game with his local team and then Real Tigers.
His exceptional talent was soon noticed and, in 1969, he joined the Kaizer XI from City Ramblers, along with Ariel ‘Pro’ Kgongoane.
Masike was one of the standout performers for the Kaizer XI team that set the South African domestic scene ablaze with the scintillating brand of football they produced in numerous friendlies around the country, in a team that featured the likes of Alfred ‘Bomber’ Chamane, Vincent ‘Tantie’ Julius, Ingle Singh, Herman ‘Pelé’ Blaschke, Patrick ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe, Ratha Mokgoatlheng, Msomi Khoza and Thomas ‘Zero’ Johnson.
He had the distinction of playing in the first ever Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates on 24 January 1970, and even scored Chiefs’ fourth goal in a 6-4 Rogue Cup Third Place play-off loss.
When Kaizer Chiefs F.C. was formally constituted on 7 January 1970, Masike was a founding member of the team, making a goal scoring league debut the following year in an 11-1 thrashing of African Wanderers on 17 April 1971.
Known for his professionalism, he was a hard- working, tough, no nonsense defender who became a firm favourite among Chiefs’ burgeoning support base, as well as within the Club. He was humorously given the nickname ‘Asinamali’ by the late, great Ewart Nene on an occasion when he asked for a raise.