League pays homage to Tornado owner
No ABC Motsepe League fixtures will be played this weekend following the decision by the provincial SA Football Association (Safa) to suspend all games scheduled for Saturday.
According to Safa-Eastern Cape provincial secretary Isaac Klaas, they have decided to honour Tornado boss, Siphiwo “Mawawa” Nyobo, who was recently fatally shot outside North End Stadium after watching his team play.
“In our meeting we had on the March 3rd there was a strong feeling to request a postponement of all the games on the day Mawawa will be laid to rest.
“So the games for this weekend have been postponed for the following week, because we want to pay our last respects to Mawawa who made a huge contribution to the development of the game as a chairman of Tornado,” said Klaas.
Klaas said the usual moment of silence given to departed football officials wouldn’t suffice in this instance as Nyobo was a special personality in the sport.
“The family has confirmed that the funeral will be on March 16 on Saturday, hence we have postponed the games for next week Wednesday.
“And those that won’t be played next week, they can still be played before the deadline of outstanding games which is March 30th.
“As after that cutoff date it will be the start of the last five games of the season where teams will be playing on Saturday until the last game.”
He said his office also extends messages of condolence to former Tornado team manager Lunga “Bashin” Jijana’s family who was laid to rest this past Saturday.
“Since Mawawa was a team chairman we had to do something in his good name as he’s done so much to plough back in our football nationally.
“And we all know Tornado is the brand it is today because of his dedication and hard work and also to show the perpertrators we are very hurt by their dastardly actions.
“They should know they didn’t kill this giant alone they left us as a nation deeply affected. We can’t play our fixtures like nothing happened.”
Nyobo was remembered at a memorial service at Orient Theatre on Wednesday with football and government officials paying tribute to him.