Farewell to Bheka, a humble role-model
Iguess it is true what they say: only the good ones die young. This is the thought that first came to my mind when a friend in Pietermaritzburg sent me a Whatsapp message on Sunday morning to say former Orlando Pirates and Golden Arrows player Bheka Phakathi had died.
He sent me the message because he knows Bheka was one of my favourite former players. I liked his calm and humble manner. His humility was genuine, not like we see from some players these days.
At the height of his playing career between 2002 and 2004 when he was at his best in the famous black and white of the Buccaneers, he never changed. He was famous but he remained the same person he was. He knew football was but just a job to him.
He still lived in Lamontville and was never lured to the suburbs like many others. He made good investments and had a fleet of taxis.
When he eventually retired he continued to live his life quietly and started his coaching qualifications and was part of the Arrows technical team. He was the assistant to Shaun Bartlett when they guided the side back to the top flight but was later released.
He was never bitter but continued with his passion and at the time of his death he had just guided Umvoti FC to win the KwaZulu-Natal
Sibongiseni Gumbi
leg of the ABC Motsepe League and qualify for the Promotion Play-Offs. It is a pity he will not get to finish his great job.
What comforts me is that he died with some dignity. His family will not go around asking for donations to bury him. He was not a pauper because he spent his earnings sensibly.
Now my wish is that he be an example to those still playing to- day. They must learn that in order for you to able to live comfortably when you retire, you have to start saving and making the right choices now. Football is a short career and not every professional player will become a coach or TV analyst.
Even if he didn’t have the coaching job, Bheka would still have lived comfortably. This is why he was able to do the coaching courses which allowed him to not stay and beg for a job at one place.
There was still a lot we expected from him. But I guess the team on the other side also needed a midfielder of his calibre.
On a lighter note, it is exciting that we are witnessing former PSL players venturing into coaching and not being afraid to start from the bottom. Look at where Simo Dladla started with Real Kings. He took them out of the ABC Motsepe League and they are now in with a chance to qualify for the NFD/PSL play-offs.
There is also Mokete Tsotesti who played for Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic who – like Bheka – has successfully guided Maccabi FC to the Gauteng ABC Motsepe championship, enabling them to qualify for the ABC Motsepe/NFD play-offs.
There are a lot of them. Jabulani Mendu is doing well at Baberwa and I hope they grow and we see them guiding these teams to the top flight in future.