Daily Archives: October 20, 2012

Madigage to be buried at Driekop outside Polokwane


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By Obakeng Maje

Pretoria- Bafana Bafana assistant coach, Thomas Madigage who passed away on Thursday evening in a horrific car accident will be buried at his home area of Driekop, 120km east of Polokwane next Sunday, 28 October 2012. His memorial service will take place in Johannesburg on Friday, 26 October.

Madigage met his death late on Thursday when his Mercedes Benz crashed into two donkeys and then an oncoming vehicle’s trailer, in Burgersfort, 30 km from his home. Despite attempts to revive him, Madigage died on the scene.

Speaking after leading a high-powered South African Football Association delegation that went to console the Madigage family in Driekop yesterday (Friday, 19 October), SAFA President, Kirsten Nematandani told the grieving family that the country had lost an individual whose life had touched many South Africans.

“Thomas represented every sector of society – the church, football and the community – and the outpouring of grief that has resulted from his sudden death is proof of his humble and well-loved nature. South Africa will never have another Thomas Madigage, and we as SAFA will work closely with the family in these times of mourning,” said Nematandani.

SAFA CEO, Dr Robin Petersen said he was still failing to come to terms with the fact that (Thomas) Madigage was no more. He said the fact that messages of condolences were pouring in from around the world, speaks volume of the impact Madigage had on people from all walks of life.

“We have no simple answers to Thomas’s sudden death. Thomas was humble and dedicated to his work, but at the same time full of life; he was truly a gift to the nation. He will be sadly missed,” said Dr Petersen.

Coach Gordon Igesund, who was part of the delegation that also included second assistant coach, Serame Letsoaka, team manager, Barney Kujane and head of national teams, Ace Kika, struggled to hold back tears when he met Madigage’s 84-year old mother, Pauline.

“Tommy was not only my colleague, he was an honest friend, wonderful person and I will not find another sincere individual like him. I have been robbed of a true friend,” said an emotional Bafana coach.

Madigage played 311 games during his illustrious career and scored 51 goals. He had four caps for Bafana Bafana and was assistant coach for Supersport United from 2004-2012, helping them win three successive league titles from 2008-2010.

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Madigage was not only my assistant, says Igesund


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Photo:(A crashed car that Madigage was driving)

By Obakeng Maje

Johannesburg-Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund is devastated by the untimely death of his assistant Thomas ‘Chincha Guluva’ Madigage, who passed away in a car accident in the early hours of Friday morning (19 October 2012).

 

“I have known Tommy for many years, he was not only my assistant, he was much more than that. He was a friend. Since working together, he had become part of my family. You can’t get a better human being than what Tommy was. He was humble, loyal, committed and sincere. He was so happy to be a part of the Bafana Bafana set-up and he had so much to contribute,” said Igesund.

 

The coach added that Madigage’s death was not only a loss to the national team, but to the whole country.

 

“Tommy, who was a committed ZCC member, still had so much to contribute to the country and his loss will be felt by all South Africans. He was so looking forward to the Nations Cup finals and it will be very difficult to participate without him. We will dedicate our Nations Cup campaign to him,“ added the head coach.

 

“My whole technical team, including assistant coach Serame Letsoaka and goalkeeper coach Alex Heredia are deeply saddened by the loss and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

 

Igesund concluded by saying that such tragedies placed football into the perspective.

 

“We often think that football is very important, but compared to this, it is nothing.”

 

Hamba Kahle Tommy!

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Chiefs crashed out of TKO


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Photo:(Backpage pix)

Bidvest Wits beat Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 to knock them out of the Telkom Knockout on Friday.

Matthew Pattison scored one goal and provided two assists, and deservedly received the Man of the Match award.

 

Chiefs were pushing from the first whistle, and in the fifth minute Siphiwe Tshabalala had a free-kick that found the head of Mulomowandau Mathoho, but Ryan Harrison parried the ball out.

 

Tefu Mashamaite managed to get a header on target from the resulting corner, but this time Harrison made a comfortable save.

 

Two minutes later Kingston Nkhatha had a great chance, after James Mayinga failed to control a long ball, but the striker hit just wide.

 

Wits opened the scoring against the run of play, when Pattison got away from his man outside the box and hit home from range, somehow beating Arthur Bartman.

 

Six minutes later the Clever Boys went 2-0 up when Papy Faty made his way between the central defenders and bundled Pattison’s free-kick into the net.

 

Chiefs had a couple of chances to get back into the game, with Siyabonga Nkosi bending a shot past the outside of the post and George Lebese hitting just wide.

 

Sweswe sent a header over the crossbar after another good Pattison free-kick a few minutes later.

 

Just after half an hour, Lebese had a run into the box and found Nkhatha, but the striker sent his header over the bar and Wits held onto their lead going into the break.

 

That proved to be Nkhatha’s last meaningful involvement in the game as he was replaced by Majoro straight after the interval.

 

In the 64th minutes Amakhosi found a gap, when Parker collected a pass from Lebese inside the box, turned, and scored.

 

Chiefs sent men forward in search of the equaliser, but Wits were the team to capitalise, when Pattison bowled forward and hit a pass to Koapeng to sidefoot home.

 

A few minutes later, however, Majoro lost his marker and hit home past an exposed Harrison.

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