STARS TURN OUT FOR MABILISA

WHILE the festive break for most means relaxing and overindulging, Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele, Bafana Bafana and FC Randers star Mandla Masango and Moroka Swallows defender Sibusiso Mokoena decided to use their short time off to surprise their former coach at Walter Stars, Bongani Mabilisa, and offer him respite from his health problems. In his playing days for Middelburg United Brothers in the NPSL, Mabilisa’s ability to strike scorching shots earned him the nickname ‘Madubula’ (“Shooter” in IsiZulu). Dangerous Darkies noticed his talents and invited him for trials, but unfortunately he failed to win a move. Walter Stars were founded when Mabilisa – a schoolteacher – was approached by one of his former high school students with an idea of starting a soccer team that would grow and promote the name of Mhluzi Township in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. That student was none other than Walter Mokoena, who was an SABC sports presenter at the time. Mabilisa went on a recruitment drive and soon Mokoena’s vision – Walter Stars – was born, and under Mabilisa’s guidance, the club dominated the Steve Tshwete Local League. Stars would go on to produce players like Jele, Masango, Mokoena, Polokwane City FC’s central defender Sbusiso Mbonani and former Mpumalanga Black Aces player Simphiwe Nkosi. But one morning in 2010, as Mabilisa was preparing to get out of bed, his health failed him and he felt pain all over his body. Since that day he has not managed to walk again. So it was a major event on 26 December when Jele, Masango and Mokoena cut their festive holidays short to spend the day with their former coach, who was so instrumental early in their careers. To mark the day at Themba Sinamela Stadium in Mhluzi, former Stars players and a local squad played a match, with the local players very keen to test their skills against Ma- sango and Mokoena – though Jele didn’t play because of the injury he sustained against Mamelodi Sundowns just before the break. Jele did, however, give Mabilisa his famous number 4 Pirates jersey as a gift. “Mabilisa helped a lot of us. We are everything we are today because of what that man taught us about football. That’s why I will always make some time for him,” Masango says. “It’s a pity he can’t speak for himself, and our aim is to take him to rehab,” says Mabilisa’s spokesperson, December Majola, a former assistant coach at Stars. “Maybe they will help him as we can see that this thing is affecting him mentally as well as physically. His lower body is no longer functioning; only his upper body is still working. Our thanks to Jele, Masango and everyone for contributing money to help with his medical expenses.” The players are hoping the event becomes an annual spectacle. “This guy has done so much for us and for me,” Mokoena says. “This is just a start. We are not done yet; we are going to raise more funds to honour him.”