Late larger-than-life Alex “Goldfinger” Shakoane remembered

SPORT

Family, friends and relatives have described the late Alex “Goldfinger” Shakoane as a man of the people and a larger-than-life character who dedicated his entire adult life to Mamelodi Sundowns.

Shakoane who has been involved with the club from its formative years in the 1970s, died this week at the age of 74.

His life and legacy were celebrated during a memorial service at the Mamelodi International Assemblies of God Church in the Pretoria township on Thursday.

Shakoane will be buried on Tuesday.

Among the prominent people who attended the memorial service were senior officials from the Gauteng provincial department of sports, arts and culture, the Tshwane municipality, Sundowns chairperson Tlhopie Motsepe, Safa president Danny Jordaan and senior PSL administrator Ronnie Schloss.

Sundowns legends from different generations also turned up in big numbers. The list included Mike Ntombela, John Tlale, Joel “Fire” Masilela, Themba Mnguni, Daniel “Mambush” Mudau, Eric Ramasike, Lovers Mohlala and Alex Bapela.

Bapela described Shakoane as someone who was always happy and said in his many years at Sundowns, he only saw the charismatic character angry once.

Bapela said that rare moment was 25 years ago during the 1998 Rothmans Cup final between Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns at FNB Stadium.

To this day, Sundowns fans - as well as the players who played in that match - still feel robbed.

After a 2-2 draw over 120 minutes, Chiefs emerged 2-1 winners in the penalty shootout and won the R1 million prize money.

After the regulation 90 minutes, with scores level at 2-2 in extra-time, Masilela scored a clear goal that would have won Sundowns the title, after an assist from Bapela.

However, the goal was ruled out by assistant referee Tiny Chandermoney, who incorrectly raised his flag for offside.

Bapela said Shakoane was livid on that day.

“It was the first PSL cup competition with a prize money of R1 million. I remember that match well because I came on as a substitute and came with the assist for “Fire” Masilela’s goal," Bapela recalled.

Bapela, who played for Sundowns between 1997 and 2003, said Shakoane and Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala arrived at his home in Ga-Rakgoatha, one of the villages that form Zebediela in Limpopo, determined not to return to Pretoria without convincing him to join Sundowns.

Bapela said: “There was a kraal at home. It happened one night while Bra Alex and Screamer were waiting at the corner, the cows were unsettled.

“They ran away for their dear lives. He brought me here [to Sundowns]. I stayed at his house when his children were still young. Bra Alex played a very important role in my career.”

Sundowns former striker Daniel “Mambush” Mudau also said he owed his life and career to Shakoane.

Mudau said he was playing on a rocky field barefoot when Shakoane scouted him.

“I would be left with a bleeding toe after kicking a stone. I would put the soil from the dirt ground over the wound. Bra Alex came and took me away from that space many years ago, and as they say, the rest was history,” Mudau remembered.

Mudau said there was a time when “Goldfingers”, as Shakoane was affectionately known, felt he was not getting the media attention and recognition that he deserved.

The agreement, said Mudau, was that each time the striker scored, he must run to the corner flag where he would find Shakoane waiting to join in the celebrations with the players.

That way, Mudau said, Shakoane knew he would be all over the media.

Shakoane’s friend and former Chiefs player, Jan Malombo Lechaba, told mourners to be in a celebratory rather than a mourning mood to remember the icon.

Many were hearing for the first time from Lechaba when he said “Alex was a Kaizer Chiefs supporter” before he switched to Sundowns. He stated"

Shakoane is survived by his wife and three children.