Tributes continue to pour in for football legend Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala. He died from the injuries sustained during a burglary at his home in Centurion in March.<\/p>\n
Tshabalala was the first ever Bafana Bafana coach, post-isolation, in 1992.<\/p>\n
Stanley Tshabalala, affectionately known as “Screamer,” was born in 1949 in Orlando East, Soweto. His first love was boxing, however, his boxing career was short-lived as he often found himself on the receiving end of hard punches, which led him to abandon the sport.<\/p>\n
Tshabalala’s passion for soccer began at an early age. He was a regular participant in street soccer matches and, in 1968, he joined the local team, Orlando Preston Brothers.<\/p>\n
Another football legend Eugene Zwane grew up in the same neighborhood as Bra Stan. And he was given his first break in professional football by Tshabalala.<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoyed the first professional coach he gave me the break in 1985 at giant Blackpool he came to pay my parents a visit and that\u2019s when I played for Blackpool,\u201d says Football legend Eugene Zwane.<\/p>\n
Tshabalala was Bafana Bafana’s first head coach after the country’s readmission to international football in 1992. Marks Maponyane played for Bafana Bafana under Tshabalala.<\/p>\n
\u201cBafana Bafana was playing against Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe and played in that first official match coached by Screamer Tshabalala I got to know him better,\u201d says Football legend Marks Maponyane.<\/p>\n
Tshabalala was a founding member of Kaizer Chiefs, one of South Africa’s most celebrated football clubs.<\/p>\n
Another football legend and President of the South African Masters and Legends Association, Jacob ” Buddha” Mathathe, also pays his respects.\u00a0He played for the one-time Benoni United and Witbank Black Aces.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have known Bra Stan since I played football, he is one of the legends in this country and unfortunately we don’t recognize and acknowledge legends like Bra Stan people that have made a great development in the development of football in the country,\u201d explains Jacob Mathathe.<\/p>\n
In the 1980s, Tshabalala moved to Sundowns and had a successful stint guiding the team to a number of titles. Doctor Khumalo was part of the first Bafana Bafana team in 1992 when Tshabalala was the coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can only say thanks for selecting in the first Bafana Bafana team thanks for trusting me to represent Bafana Bafana I have shared great moments with you, and I enjoyed every moment I spent with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was Orlando Pirates’ Technical Director at the time of his death.<\/p>\n
Video: Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala – Football legend Lucas Radebe pays tribute<\/strong><\/p>\n