Vovovo Director ‘Tsetla’ is late
The football administrator passed away on Thursday night after a long illness. It could not be confirmed whether this happened in hospital or at his home in Motshane. News of his death started circulating on social media yesterday morning. Efforts to get comments from his family proved futile as the firstborn daughter Andile, said the elders were still engaged in talks. The club’s Head of Marketing and Communications Sandile ‘Ntofo’ Dlamini confirmed Bhembe’s demise in a press release.
“The entire Vovovo family is saddened by the sudden death of our director, better known as Tsetla,” the statement partly read. It also said Bhembe was a tireless advocate for children, a committed humanitarian and a highly respected man. “Bhembe made an indelible mark on which we are today and we will keep his legacy of great service, personal relationships and outstanding stewardship alive and well,” it continued.
Vovovo CEO Stan Dlamini had also expressed his sadness at the news of the passing of their director while PLE Chairman Mark Carmichael minced no words about the kind of person football has lost. Carmichael said it was a big loss not only to football, but the nation. “He was a zealous and workaholic football administrator who served the sport assiduously. His passing on is a gigantic loss to football as he was a fast growing learning football administrator who had a boundless future in the development of the game,” Carmichael said.
He added that as PLE, they were devastated and had to put on hold the club’s league fixture against Green Mamba today. A memo cancelling the match was released around noon by the PLE Chief Operations Officer (COO) Pat Vilakati.
ABOUT SIPHO BHEMBE:
The EFA also joined hands and sent their heartfelt condolences.
“We have learnt with great shock about the untimely demise of Sipho Bhembe who was an Executive Committee Member of the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) and Director of Vovovo FC. At this point; EFA would like to comprehend her solemn and heartfelt condolences to his family, relatives, PLE, Vovovo FC, friends, the general football family and affected establishments for his passing,” read the press statement.
Meanwhile, Bhembe had sold some shares of the club to former Manzini Wanderers Director Mehluli Nhlengetfwa. The deceased also groomed young talent such Leon Manyisa, even taking him overseas where he did not last though before returning home to join Mbabane Swallows, a team that Bhembe had close ties with. Others are Young Buffaloes trio of Mancoba Mavimbela, Mpendulo ‘Mpetha’ Dlamini, Banele Mkhabela and Denver Sundowns’ Makhosi Mthethwa to mention a few. Bhembe joins a list of other top names in the game that have recently been lost due to various reasons. These include former PLE and Swallows Chairman Victor ‘Maradona’ Gamedze, former PLE CEO John Mazibuko and Ex-Mbabane Highlanders coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati to mention a few.