WORK OFF THE FIELD

Since retiring from football in 2002 following a short spell with Al-Wahda in UAE, Masinga joined the South African Masters and Legends Association where he later became vice president. The Association president, Bhudha Mathathe, says he was in touch with the former Bafana striker until his last day. “Chippa was the vice president of the South African Masters and Legends Football Association having joined immediately after retiring, and was part of the association since then,” Mathathe says. “He was involved in the formulation of the constitution and assisted Safa with football development while also serving on the Safa referees clusters committee. “I had d known Chippa as a playe er, but we got close to eac ch other when he joined d the Masters and Le egends Football Association. We spoke to each other every day, until his last day, we were that close. He was more than a friend, but a brother and someone who advised me on many things.” Mathathe says Masinga was a stalwart in his attempts to better the game for others in South Africa. “He wanted to contribute to the development of football in this country and Safa’s Vision 2022 was close to his heart,” he says. “His main concern was that we don’t have enough representatives in terms of players playing in Europe. That bothered him a lot. He was also instrumental in making sure that Desiree Ellis became the Banyana Banyana coach, saying we needed locals in charge. “The last week we spent together was difficult, it was not easy. Even now I haven’t grasped the fact that Phil Masinga is no longer.”