Soccer lovers from around Vhembe are still shocked after the sudden death of well-known former soccer referee and referee selector Mr Shumani Ratshisevhe (66). He died at his home at Ha-Mashau Bodwe on 10 December and was buried at Bodwe on Sunday.
During his heydays, he became involved in the development of young soccer referees.
Ratshisevhe worked at the Vuwani Football Association until the soccer associations merged, following the municipal demarcation. He was also a referee in the SAFA Vodacom league, now known as the ABC Motsepe league. In this capacity, he also served as referee selector for the SAFA Vhembe MMK Administrators league.
Ratshisevhe was a former principal at the Khwara Secondary school, before he retired in 2020.
His daughter, Ms Khuthadzo Ratshisevhe, said the family members were saddened by his death, but were proud to have produced "one of the most valuable members of the community". She said that Ratshisevhe had played a big role in uplifting the standard of soccer and education in the local community.
The president of SAFA Vhembe, Mr George Kubayi, said the football family had lost one of its pillars, someone who had always been working hard towards the development of the sport. "We used to visit him even during his last days and he could not stop talking about soccer. He was always there when we needed him. Now that he is gone, we are afraid that no one will ever fill his shoes because he is irreplaceable," he said.