Soccer legend and soldier laid to rest

A local soccer legend and member of the South African National Defence Force, Mr Nkhumeleni “Trigger” Mukosi (53) of Tshiozwi, was buried during a well-attended funeral on Saturday.He passed away after a battle with an unidentified illness in the Makhado Air Force Base's sick bay last Tuesday. 

The news of his death sent shockwaves through the community he served throughout his life. 

Although it was raining heavily on Saturday, many people braved the showers and gathered to pay their last respects to him. Military songs, especially those composed by soldiers, substituted the usual gospel hymns as Mukosi’s coffin was lowered at the Tshiozwi graveyard. 

He became a member of the defence force in the early eighties. During his heydays, he played for Tshiozwi Dynamos, the SANDF soccer squad and the former Venda homeland's national team.

Family representative Mr Rendani Mukosi said the family was proud "to have produced one of the most valuable members of the community". He said they acknowledged the role that Mukosi had played in uplifting the standard of soccer in the local community. The president of Tshiozwi Dynamos, Mr Patrick Sidebi, said the football family had lost one of its pillars, who had always worked hard towards the development of soccer. "The whole area was shocked when we heard of his untimely death," he added.

Sidebi described Mukosi as a brave player who was helping young ones and who was loyal to the community and team and to his fellow man. He described Mukosi as a community builder and educator who was larger than life. “He was always there whenever we needed him. He was a responsible soldier who also worked hard in the development of sports in our village. Now that he is gone, we are afraid that no one will ever fill his shoes because he is irreplaceable. It is heroes like these who need to be acknowledged in public, because their contributions in community development are eternal."

He is survived by his wife and children.

Date:27 November 2015

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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