Thanks for the memories, Don

EWS of the death of soccer legend

Don Mudaly was met with both sadness and a touch of nostalgia.

Sad because Don was a likeable and inspirational figure in his heyday, someone who made friends very easily despite his no-nonsense approach on the field.

Nostalgic because it brought back unforgettable memories of those glory days of Federation

Professional League (FPL) games at Curries Fountain during the 1970s and 1980s.

He was not just a dynamic coach and manager but also a man dedicated to a cause – the cause of non-racial sport in his country.

At a time when sport in South Africa was bedevilled by dehumanising racism, the FPL stood its ground. Initially, the organisation had little or no sponsorship, its facilities were relatively poor, and its games were largely ignored by the mainstream white media.

Despite these early setbacks, the FPL began to grow in stature and popularity, spreading its wings nationally, often attracting enthusiastic crowds of over 20 000 to big games at Curries, the mecca of non-racial football.

And who do we have to thank for that? Dedicated and principled leaders like Mudaly and stalwarts in the FPL administration, including RK Naidoo, Norman Middleton, Moses Ali, SK Chetty, Charles Pillay, Archie Hulley and Ashwin Trikamjee (to name just a few), who kept the home fires burning through troubled times.

Non-racialism in sport was a cause worth fighting for – and the commitment was shared across the game, including with players, coaches, managers, referees, fans and members of the media. I recall featuring in a curtain-raiser to a big cup final when the media was pitted against the referees.

We lost, only because our opposition had the ref on their side. Those were the days!