Wiseman Meyiwa, chin up son, there’s still life in your body

● Dear Wiseman,

I trust that all is good in your hood as much as all is well on my end.

I am a father of two 19-year-old boys who have begun their university education as they continue their tapestry in this journey of life.

When the invitation dropped in our email inboxes, my colleagues and I thought Kaizer Chiefs were inviting us to a press conference to announce the signings they have made, seeing as the transfer window was still open.

Alas, it was to inform South Africans that you, a teenage footballer pregnant with promise, will no longer kick a ball.

The pain felt like it was one of my own offspring.

My thoughts immediately veered towards what you could be and have been going through since your tragic car accident back in November.

You must be exhausted emotionally as you repeatedly ask yourself: why me?

You’ve probably thought you would have been better off dead.

Here’s the thing, son, this is no time for self-pity.

Being confined to a wheelchair is not the end of the world.

Do not allow your condition to force you into a situation where you wallow in misery.

Unlike your namesake, Senzo Meyiwa, there is still life in your body.

Your heart is still beating.

Your brain is functioning at full capacity.

Draw strength from the millions of well-wishes that have come your way since the terrible tidings of your being incapacitated sent shockwaves throughout the country.

That image told a tale of a parent pleased by the progress of her young son

Kubuhlungu, ndodana, what has happened to you is extremely heartbreaking.

But what is heartwarming is your demeanour. You seem to have taken it in your stride. Pleasing it was to see pictures of your handsome self posting a beaming smile as you interacted with your Chiefs teammates.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Those pictures belied the fact that complex as the situation currently looks, your head is screwed on properly to face the appropriate adjustments necessary for you to soldier on.

Speaking of pictures, I remember the one of your mother when you were promoted from the Chiefs juniors to the senior side.

That image captured a mother’s pride. It told a tale of a parent pleased by the progress of her young son who was on the brink of starting to live his dream as a professional footballer.

She had let you go to pursue your dream at the tender age of 14.

I can’t imagine what she is going through right now, how she is feeling that only three years later, your career is over as it was just beginning.

One is encouraged by the pronouncement by Chiefs that they will stay by your side and will be taking this journey with you.

“What does the club want to do? What is the club planning? We are going to take things step by step.

“The journey is not ended‚ the player is still alive. Ours is to make sure that as part of development‚ as part of why we develop players is to develop talent and ensure that we gave a future for our kids.

“This is one of the journeys that we are going to travel with Meyiwa. He will still be part of us‚ he will still be part of the journey ahead.

“The chairman [Kaizer Motaung] has got a broader vision about life and football. And we will never leave our player and let him be alone.

“He will always walk the walk with us. He will always be a Khosi for life. And we plead with our supporters to give that support when he gets back home in Maritzburg. And the family as a whole must get that support from everyone in the fraternity,” pledged Bobby Motaung.

To quote from a wise man I know, Sthembiso Nzimande:“Sometimes rock bottom will teach you lessons that mountain tops never will.”

You will come out of this even better, son. Chin up, Khosi. Love and peace. Twitter: @bbkunplugged99