‘In another country he would’ve been knighted’

STANLEY “Screamer” Tshabalala, who died Thursday aged 75, should be remembered as a “selfless, courageous, brave and friendly man” who made an immense contribution to South African football.

“I don’t think we appreciated Bra Stan enough,” football administrator Floyd Mbele said of the former coach who finally succumbed to injuries sustained from being shot by burglars at his home in March.

“What he has done for the game, if he lived in another country, he would have been knighted.”

This sentiment is shared by Trott Moloto, the former Bafana Banana coach who worked with Tshabalala as his assistant at Mamelodi Sundowns in the eighties.

“It is a pity that South Africans in general we don’t appreciate our own people for the contributions they make. And it is the same with Stan because what he has done for the game is incredible. Hopefully the likes of the sports department will honour him somehow even though he won’t see it,” said Mbele.

Mbele, who worked closely with Tshabalala at Pirates as well as at in the South African Football Association (Safa), referred to Tshabalala as a pioneer.

“He did a lot for the game as a player being part of the formation of Kaizer Chiefs and then shaking things up at Mamelodi Sundowns and being the first national team coach. Bra Stan was not afraid to try things out. He was brave and courageous as a coach. And as a man he was very friendly.”

Mbele said he had learnt a lot from the man he saw as a “mentor, brother, father and friend”.

“Bra Stan and I could talk for two to three hours on the phone about everything. He did not only teach me about football, but I learnt a lot of things from him about life in general.”

Moloto described Tshabalala as an open-minded coach who always looked to learn and improve.

“Remember Stan went to Italy via Kappa and he learnt so much there that he came back and implemented at the club. He always wanted to see the team improving.”

“I’ve lost a good friend with whom I used to have coffees and we would talk for hours on end.”