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‘PAT WAS A FATHER TO WANDERERS PLAYERS’

27/09/2020 23:15:00 BY THEMBA ZWANE

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MKHUZWENI – Manzini Wanderers players have lost a father figure in the demise of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pat Mahlalela.

This transpired yesterday morning during the morning service for Mahlalela’s funeral proceedings at Mkhuzweni, in the Hhohho region.

Speaking on behalf of the hub giants was Public Relations Officer (PRO) Sandile ‘Ntofo’ Dlamini at the funeral attended by over 800 mourners.

Wanderers’ supporters, who were visibly clad in the team’s merchandise, dominated in numbers.

“To the players, he was a father. We send our deepest condolences to his family and Wanderers supporters,” said the PRO.

This is after Mahlalela’s casket had been brought out for the morning service at exactly 5:15am.

True to his words, the team players had been present since the deceased’s memorial service on Friday at the Divine Healing Ministries.

emotional

Yesterday, it was an emotional send-off for their departed CEO and some of the players spotted at the funeral include captain Lwazi ‘Shana’ Maziya, Sicelo ‘Junior’ Simelane and Sicelo Mkhonta among others.

In fact, the entire Wanderers family was represented from elders, the Management Committee (MC) and the National Supporters Committee (NSC). “I have been sent by the elders of the team to say that as Manzini Wanderers Football Team, we have lost so much. Pat was a man and a half, we have lost the team’s backbone,” said the PRO.

Dlamini further described the deceased CEO as a man with humour making an example on how he would joke about former captain Jerry ‘Mbazo’ Gamedze after he missed a crucial penalty.

The PRO recalled on the day he was informed of the CEO’s death. He said he was from the Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS)’s Sports Show where, ironically, the deceased used to send him to relate news of the team. Dlamini said they hoped God will give them another Mahlalela to work for Wanderers.