Posted in News on Feb 02, 2004.
The Acer Cyber Branch was well represented at the Doctor Khumalo benefit game with the likes of Lesibana, Nomfusi, Gordon and many others. We also met Free State’s “famous” cyber, Dikeledi. However, she was bitterly disappointed when she did not see her favourite” player on the pitch (you all know who that player is).
For me this game carried a lot of sentiments and I couldn’t have missed it for anything in the world. Early in the morning on the day of the match my brother called me from Tongaat and asked where I was going to watch the game. When I said I’m going to Bloemfontein he thought I was kidding, and I even joked and said if I don’t go the match might be postponed.
When Doc made his debut during Iwisa Charity tournament I was there, so it was quite befitting that I should be there when the curtain is finally brought down on his career. Ironically, Ted Dumitru was the coach who unleashed 16V then, and as fate would have it, Ted got the opportunity to bring down the curtain on Doc’s illustrious career.
It is such silky skills that kept us on the edge of our seats and the opposition on their toes. Hopefully the current crop of players can take a leaf out of Doc’s book. Some of the chatters may recall “my story” that when my daughter was born in July 1992 I was at FNB stadium enjoying a display of talent against Crystal Palace.
I remember when 16V played for Columbus Crew they had an answering service whereby you’d phone and leave a message for your favourite player, I must say it’s a miracle that I didn’t go bankrupt with these phone calls.
Doc’s successes both at club as well as national level are well documented elsewhere so I need not delve into that.
On behalf of all peace loving people of South Africa I can only say: Siyabonga Khumalo, Mntungwa, Mbulasi, Mzilikazi kaMashobane, Donda weziziba, wena owadla umuntu wamqeda umyenga ngendaba...
