The former dribbling wizard of Khubvi Peace Makers, Makwarela United Scientist and Shayandima Bob Stars, Moses "Valdez" Madula, was laid to rest at Ha-Mashaile graveyard in Khubvi on Saturday morning (28 January). Madula passed away last week after a long illness.
Tshisamphiri Madima, one of his teammates at the then University of the North, now known as the University of Limpopo, said Madula had been one of the best players ever produced in this part of the country. "I first met him when my home team, Masikhwa Young Stars, were playing against Khubvi Peace Makers at the Khubvi Grounds back in 1977. The first time he trapped the ball, I could see that he was going to give us problems. I remember I scored the opening goal of the match, but within five minutes, he dribbled past the whole defence and equalised with ease," he said.
Madima, who was also regarded as a football megastar during his heydays, said that when Madula had arrived at the University of the North in 1978, he had immediately poached him to join the team he had been playing for at the campus. "We once won a top-eight competition. In that competition, we scored six goals in three games, and Madula scored three of those goals. I also played with him for Makwarela United Scientist. We used to mesmerise the defenders with our one-touch football and, of course, opening defence with our dribbling. May your soul rest in peace, my brother," he concluded.
The funeral was graced by former football stars and officials from both the provincial and the national government. Madula is survived by his mother, one brother, one sister and four children.