Teacher/referee will be sorely missed
SOUTH Africa is mourning the death of legendary soccer referee Ian Mcleod, who was the first whistleman to represent the country at a World Cup tournament in 1998.
The 63-year-old died on Thursday night after he was admitted to hospital last week.
Former SA Football Association (Safa) vice-president Mubarak Mohamed described Mcleod as an icon who conducted himself with respect and humility on and off the field.
Mohamed said he had known Mcleod for more than four decades. They first met in the amateur division.
“He was an iconic referee in Durban, very dedicated. He was committed in developing other referees.
“I appointed him to officiate at the Premier Soccer League (PSL) level because I knew what he was capable of and he has never disappointed.
“I lost a colleague and mentor,” Mohamed said.
“He was entrusted with the whistle for many intense derbies between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. He was revered as a no-nonsense referee on the field. He would flash a wide smile while pointing to a penalty spot and was never afraid to send players off with red cards.
“He handled those games very well. We did not think twice as to who to appoint for the big matches,” Mohamed said.
Safa CEO Dennis Mumble described Mcleod as a true gentleman who would be sorely missed in the football fraternity. At his time of death, he was serving as a match commissioner for Safa.
“Ian was a perfect gentleman, never angry with anyone a and always smiling. He will be missed by the entire football family. We are really saddened by his passing,” said Mumble.
A former school teacher who worked with Mcleod at Durban North’s Virginia Preparatory School said he was a kind man. Kim Petzer said Mcleod was popular with teachers, pupils and staff alike for the seven years he spent there between 1993 and 2000.
He later relocated to Crawford Schools, and taught at both the Durban and Pretoria campuses in the early 2000s.
“Mcleod had a deep love for working with children and he became the beloved principal of thousands of pupils. We wish to extend our condolences to his wife, Judy, his sons Michael and Jason, and his Crawford family of colleagues and pupils,” the school said.