Coaches I’ve worked with: That’s why I dedicate this column to him

I know a lot of people will find this one surprising but, as you continue to read, you will understand the thinking behind talking about this gentleman this week. This is a space usually dedicated to football coaches but this man is a coach in his own right, a life coach at that! You’ve all heard about him and the good work he continues to do for the current and former footballers. I just felt the need to appreciate this man, this black excellence, for the way he looks after players in his stable, both current and former. This man really touched my heart a few weeks ago, when we laid another legend, Siphiwe Mkhonza, to rest, in Kwa-Thema, Springs. I would be failing in my position if I let that moment go unnoticed and not heard of by the millions of Soccer Laduma readers. I am talking about the young and intelligent Jazzman Mahlakgane! You know, when you work with an individual, you get to know and understand their way of conducting their business better. That’s when you realise why they are where they are in their chosen profession. When you meet their parents, then you start to understand them even better. This man comes from humble beginnings and when I first celebrated his mother’s birthday, he invited all the legends and current players in his stable, his friends and everyone he knew and that’s when I got to know the family side of his life. That was a “Wow!” moment for me because it explained why he’s been so successful in his career. The love he has for his family, especially his mother, is out of this world! I got goosebumps, watching everything as it unfolded. Jazzman is not only an agent to current and former players but a true father-figure even to people older than him. This just goes to show that you have more than just an agent in him. He’s one wise and caring individual I know. For a busy man like him to say to himself: “Let me put all these former footballers together and give them proper life, beyond their football days, by providing them with life-changing opportunities,” is something I will never take for granted. He continues to organise appearances and endorsements for legends, to keep them going in these difficult economic times. When you look at the love and support this man gives to the legends, you can’t help but appreciate him. He organises friendly matches for legends to keep fit because he doesn’t like to see them losing their fitness and getting overweight. He will encourage everyone to keep fit in order to continue working with him and that’s what keeps the legends going. He always says people will appreciate and respect you when they can see that you are taking care of yourself. This man wants to see the legends in a similar, if not same, physical condition as when they still played the game. He organises Christmas parties for his current and former players, where we come together as a family to share ideas and knowledge. As former players, it always gives us joy to share information with the current players, playing for different teams. You can imagine how much information these players draw from the legends whenever we meet up at Jazzman’s get-togethers. That’s how much of an important role this man plays when it comes to putting former and current players under the same roof. Also, the way he cares about his family, especially his mother, is something we can all learn from. I’m being serious when I say almost every time, I’m with this man’s family, I get goosebumps because of the love and respect they have for one another. All his players, current or former, remain his family. The late Siphiwe Mkhonza was still in Jazzman’s stable when he recently passed away. Jazzman was there for Skizo until his last day on earth. When he was admitted into hospital, Jazzman was there. He managed everything and, like any caring parent would do for their child, ensured that his former client got the best send-off possible. That’s what Jazzman did for Mkhonza! If someone can have this big heart and love, can you imagine what would be our country like if we had just 50 such people in every community? Jazzman, together with the Mkhonza family, were there for Skizo up to the last day when the Lord called him. The funeral was well-organised and I have not seen such a beautiful send-off in a while. As sad as it was to lay Mkhonza to rest, one must admit that the family and Jazzman made the celebration of his life, something to remember. The sendoff Siphiwe got was amazing! Once again, as much as it was a sad day, I’d like to believe that his father, Joseph “Skheshekheshe” Mkhonza was so proud to see his son receiving so much love during and even after his life. We are so proud of what Jazzman did because he’s always an individual who wants to help. When you see someone going out of their way to help the next person, it gives you hope that there are still some really good people out there. Certain things this man does are beyond expectation. When Jazzman opens his mouth, it is always something positive that comes out of it. There’s always something to put a smile on an individual. We are so fortunate to have him as our manager, someone who looks after our brands. Today, I just want him to know how much we appreciate him for what he does for us. Sometimes we may not say these things to him but he must know that his efforts never go unnoticed. It is always good to tell someone while they can still hear you, rather than giving them credit posthumously. That’s why I dedicate this column to him. The love he showed to the Mkhonza family really touched me. It touched a lot of people because we couldn’t believe what we saw. The way our people behave or view things is unbelievable. If Mkhonza’s funeral was not well-organised, there would have been video clips on social media but Jazzman and the Mkhonzas made sure it was a funeral befitting of a legend that Siphiwe was. Everything was world-class, thanks to the parties that were involved. Like I said, we are so fortunate to have Jazzman and people like him in our lives. You look at the current players and the way they are loved and protected by this man. He secures them proper contracts and goes beyond the call of duty by ensuring that they invest their money. Jazzman isn’t just about contracts but grooming good human beings. He isn’t just about business but life in general.