PE soccer legend Welgemoed dies after cancer battle
SOCCER legend Anthony Neil Welgemoed, 58, died after a long battle with cancer at his home in Westering on Sunday.
Affectionately known as “Pun”, the towering striker won provincial colours from the junior ranks at Hume Park to seniors at Callies and Walmer Celtic.
In between, Welgemoed played for the SA National Defence force team in 1978 and was selected for the Springbok team in the 1980s to play against the SA Maccabi team.
After the unification of football in the province, Welgemoed was selected for the first Safa-EP team, which competed in the Safa Transnet interprovincial tournament and won promotion to the A Section.
He started playing professionally at the tender age of 18 for Hume Park, and was in the team which won the National Third Division championship.
He also had a stint with Blackpool in the National Premier League, playing against top teams like Orlando Pirates.
Welgemoed was unbeatable in the air and scored a large number of his trademark goals with his head.
Gary Stevenson, who played with and against him, said he was arguably one of the best players of his era in the province.
After his playing days, he turned to administration and served on the Safa-EP committee under Themba Makana and coached Walmer Celtic.
His friend, Robbie Morrick, described Welgemoed as a true legend.
“He always gave of his best both on and off the field, and was a wonderful team man,” Morrick said.
“Despite his size, he was always quiet and unassuming and had a very soft heart. He gave true meaning to the term gentle giant.”
His friend for more than 40 years, Munchy Margon described Welgemoed as the kindest man he had ever met.
“From the time we played in the Eastern Province cup-winning U16 team, Pun was my best friend, my inspiration and my mentor,” Margon said.
“He was definitely one of the top 10 players of his time. He was always helpful and would give the shirt off his back, but also had his tougher side.
“He was as straightforward a person as you can get.”
Before his illness, Welgemoed and Margon were business partners.
Welgemoed is survived by his wife and childhood sweetheart Ronell, daughters Vernine, Kestell, Teneil and Chloe, and grandson Camden.
The funeral service will take place at the St Marks Church in Westering today at 1pm.
The service will be conducted by Dr Bruce Woolard, who married the couple 35 years ago.