CONDOLENCES FROM MARITZBURG UNITED ON THE PASSING OF FREE STATE STARS CHAIRMAN MIKE MOKOENA
17 June 2020
Maritzburg United Football Club would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family of Mike Mokoena and all those associated with Free State Stars.
Mr Mokoena's death was announced by the Premier Soccer League on Wednesday, with PSL Chairman Dr Irvin Khoza paying a moving tribute to a man who did so much for South African soccer.
"Mike Mokoena was a self-made man that took the fruits of his toil, which he could have used for his personal benefit and that of his family and invested selflessly into football," Dr Khoza said.
"The Free State Stars payroll that he created and maintained, sometimes under very trying circumstances, is a source of viable livelihood for many.
"He shined a spotlight on a little known town in South Africa. He literally put Qwa Qwa and the town of Bethlehem on the map," Dr Khoza added.
In many ways, Ea Lla Koto, a small-town club with close community ties and well supported by local residents, is similar to Maritzburg United. It is indeed a sad day for the club, Free State football and for the South African soccer community as a whole.
"Our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the Mokoena family, friends, acquaintances and everyone at Free State Stars Football Club," said Team of Choice chairman Farook Kadodia.
"Mike Mokoena was a giant of a man in the South African football arena and his passion for the game and everything he did to uplift football and to create opportunities in the rural Free State was to be much admired.
“He was selfless in his work and helped better the lives of many. He will be sorely missed by all in the South African soccer fraternity, but we hope that his legacy will live on in the club he was so passionate about, Free State Stars,” Kadodia added.
It was of course just over two years ago that Maritzburg played Ea Lla Koto in the Nedbank Cup final, with the Bethlehem-based team triumphing 1-0.
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