By Lehlohonolo Lehana
The South African football legend Stanley ‘Screamer’ Tshabalala was laid to rest at Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg in a poignant ceremony steeped in both mourning and celebration.
Tshabalala died in hospital last Thursday, after succumbing to injuries sustained when he was shot in his home in March.
His burial ceremony followed almost five hours funeral service that was held at the Grace Bible Church in Pimville, Soweto that was attended by South African football lovers from all walks of life.
‘Bra Stan’, as he was affectionately known, was buried next to his son Tokollo ‘Magesh’ Tshabalala who died in 2022.
Dignitaries who attended the service included Caf president Patrice Motsepe, Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza, South African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan and minister of sport Gayton McKenzie.
Also in attendance were current and former footballers including Teboho Moloi, Mandla Sithole, Edward Motale, Doctor Khumalo, Mike Ntombela and officials Bobby Motaung and Trott Moloto.
Tshabalala’s wife, Henriatta spoke via a video message at the funeral service for her husband. She described him as a man who loved her “loudly and proudly”.
“I do not think there is a man that would have loved me the way Stan loved me. He respected me, he protected me, most people would not have known me, and he loved it that way.
“I loved him; I could not even see it. I was just like a zombie. I miss our morning talks because he made me laugh. I think he took the wrong career. He was supposed to be a comedian.”
His daughter, Dineo Tshabalala, said her father was a person who was loved by people.
“And whenever I would say ‘yes dad’, he would say ‘no love, do not call me dad, just say Bra Stan, you are old now you cannot be calling me dad’.”
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie also paid tribute to the late coach.
“Nobody can survive without happiness, and the soccer fraternity has brought us happiness during the dark days of apartheid. For that, I want to salute each and every person who has been involved in soccer; you have been the one constant during our darkest days.”
Delivering the eulogy at the funeral on Thursday, Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi said Tshabalala cherished football.
“We join the nation, mourning the passing of a dedicated and committed South African, the one who chose sport as a terrain of transforming our society, the one who loved education for his children and the one who cherished and loved football.
“He was a special breed. He led us in unchartered waters when we knew layers of international football. Played when players were very few, coached when coaches were rare because football was his life.”
The legendary Tshabalala, who was a respected coach, scout, administrator and worked at Orlando Pirates until his death, had been recovering after he was attacked and shot by burglars at his home in March.
His many accomplishments include being a founding member of Kaizer Chiefs while he led Mamelodi Sundowns to various titles in the 80s.
It was during that time where he earned a reputation as Piano and Shoeshine.
Tshabalala was also Bafana Bafana’s first head coach after the country’s readmission to international football in 1992. His name is etched in the history books of Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns.