Give them their flowers now – while they are still alive!

The Citizen

30-04-2025

Give them their flowers now – while they are still alive!
SEDIBENG.- Jomo Sono once said, 'Don't honour or name a stadium after me when I'm dead. If you want to honour me, do it now while I'm still alive.'
Zakes' Sports Corner totally agrees with him!
The funeral of Simon 'Bull' Lehoko reminded me of Bra J's (Jomo Sono) words. This thing of making promises to the families of these former players after they have passed on is nothing but hypocritical, to say the least. Zakes' Sports Corner has said this before, people like Dr Molefi Oliphant and Ntate Lehoko were supposed to be honoured a long time ago, but no!
Ntate Lehoko is gone without being honoured by the Vaal community for his contribution not only to Vaal football, but South African football. A person lucky enough to be honoured while he was still alive was former football par excellence administrator George 'Kid Action' Thabe. The George Thabe Stadium was named after him while he was still alive and kicking.
For that, Zakes' Sports Corner gives that particular person or institution a round of applause. Ironically, the same can't be said about Ntate Lehoko, who dedicated his life to the development of South African football when it wasn't easy. This was during those days when apartheid was the order of the day.
MATTER OF FACT, Ntate Lehoko won't forgive us for not giving him his flowers while he was still alive.
We are a generation that doesn't care about others!
This thing of coming to people's funerals and lying with our straight faces must come to an end. We are nothing but football hypocrites! It is sad when people use other people's funerals as a popularity contest!
This is absolutely wrong, to say the least.
Ntate Oliphant is the last man standing with so many accolades, but still yet to be honoured. For starters, Ntate Oliphant is not only a football administrator guru but also an academic of note. He was a teacher, principal and director of education, to mention but a few! Some men and women play an important role in our society, but we fail to honour them while they are still alive.
Why?
Bra J is right, don't give them flowers after their departure, give them now while they are still alive.
Zakes' Sports Corner appeals to football people to stop using their former teammates' funerals as a meeting point.
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