Marching on, after the loss of our football Heroes
We’ve entered the third month of the New Year and already so much strife and loss has been experienced within the sporting industry. The circle of life, but for those near and dear to the departed, the pain cuts deep.
Thinking back to the start of this organisation and how the South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) came about – it took like-minded individuals to sit around a table, agree and sometimes agreeing to disagree to the impact the union would have among footballers and what path it should pave, what it will stand for, which fights it would take head on and what would govern a place and space that we all want to deem safe for any footballer whether male or female, to walk through the doors and feel supported, this in essesense is what we stand for!
Regardless of the strides made, the failures encountered, the victories rejoiced over – we cannot thank those who paved the way for a union which stands tall today. Adversities still come, but to remain steadfast in a vision is what drives the leadership, every day.
One such hero, we would like to signal out is John Moeti, a man who earned 29 caps for his country. By no means do we want to lay down flowers at his feet, only because he has passed on, but to reminisce on just what an impact he has had, that through his death we’re reminded of his will, steadfast nature and the 'hand in hand' in moulding SAFPU.
“I recalled the SAFPU founding members, I recall that among great names was the name of John Moeti, who rose up to take a stand, and in that standing up for all footballers then and now. For his hand in creating what we know now as SAFPU and for embodying all that we stand for. We don our hat to this legend, without his wisdom and selflessness we would not be here today, we need more of his calibre,” shared the Vice President Tebogo Monyai, at Moeti’s memorial recently.
We also acknowledge the Stellenbosch FC team in the Western Cape, as they are still reeling from the loss of their team mate Oshwin Andries, and think of the journey that the team and our members embark on to come to terms with the pain and grief which is still new. We are thinking of you during this time…
Further afield – we extend our sincerest condolences to the team, family and friends of Christian Atsu, the Ghanaian international who died as a result of the devastating earthquake which claimed the lives of many in Turkey. May his soul rest in peace…
Football is the DNA that connects us, makes us family. So pain and loss transcends from one part of the world to the other, and does not make us immune to the suffering experienced many miles away. As SAFPU, we would like to honour and thank our fallen football heroes for the part they played in the game, for their contribution, for the memories and most importantly, for the love they had for the beautiful game!