SPORT 15
CITY VISION Thursday, 5 November 2015
Lolo to live in memories forever SPINDOG MOTSAMAI
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n show of respect and admiration for their deceased player, Ajax Cape Town CEO Ari Efstathiou, announced that Block 117 at Cape Town Stadium will be renamed ‘The Cecil Lolo - Khayelitsha Stand’ on match days. This comes after the tragic passing of Urban Warriors defender Sonwabile Cecil Lolo in a car accident in the early hours of Sunday morning on October 25. Block 117 at Cape Town Stadium has become the home of all Urban Warriors for every home match. “While we may no longer have Cecil Lolo on the field with us, this is the ideal way to have his presence with us at every home match,” said the club’s official website. In addition, the club will also be retiring the number 21 jersey in Lolo’s honour. Lolo’s official memorial service was held at the Thusong Hall in Khayelitsha on Friday, October 30 with the entire Ajax Cape Town family in attendance. Efstathiou also urged the fans and especially the Khayelitsha community to come out and support the team when they play home starting with the Orlando Pirates game held last night as the teams hopes to harness the memory of their former teammate. The stand will be called “The Cecil Lolo Khayelitsha Stand” and is specifically for the community of Khayelitsha where Lolo grew up and lived at the time of his passing. Friends, family and teammates of the late Ajax Cape Town defender, Cecil Lolo, say he was respected in his community and one of the country’s brightest soccer stars. Lolo died in a car crash in Khayelitsha earlier this month. Mourners, including the Ajax Cape Town squad, attended the memorial in Khayelit-
Born: 11 March 1988 Died: 25 October 2015 Ajax Cape Town CEO Ari Efstathiou (left) retiring jersey 21 while coach Roger De Sa was at pains during a memorial service held at Thusong Centre. PHOTOS: LINDILE MBONTSI
Cecil Lolo will be buried on the weekend. sha. Ajax captain Travis Graham delivered a heartfelt eulogy, remembering the good times spent with his teammate on and off the field. Ajax fans in the congregation spoke fondly of the footballer’s exploits on the field, saying he was a fearless player who always played with passion. Lolo’s funeral service will take place on Sunday in the village of Centane in the Eastern Cape.
The Lolo family and relatives in a sombre moodi during a memorial service held on Friday morning.
Lala ngoxolo Lolo, we’ll always remember you, chanted the fans during a memorial service held at Thusong Centre on Friday morning. PHOTOS: LINDILE MBONTSI
An emotional fan could not hold his tears as speakers eulogised Cecil Lolo. PHOTOS: LINIDILE MBONTSI
Hani cricket gets major boost from Gary Kirsten Foundation MBONGISENI MASEKO Chris Hani Arts and Culture High School received cricket equipment from the Gary Kirsten Foundation last week in Khayelitsha. The equipment included nets, bats, gloves, pads and were provided a coach who will train the school for this season. Gary Kirsten Foundation coaching director , Rian van Niekerk, said there are over 50 learners who have shown interest in the game already in the school and they are hoping the number will grow in future. “We are excited to be supporting the school. We also introduced the coach who will guide and monitor the learners through-out the year,” Van Niekerk said. An excited Mzingisi Peter was unveiled as the foundation’ s coach for the school. Peter said this is a good opportunity for the learners to grasp “ins and outs of the game.”
“We can use cricket as an opportunity to fight crime. It is a good thing to keep learners active in sports so they will not be involved in gangsterism and other social ills. Some of them will end up playing for the national team. It is not going to be easy, they have to be disciplined,” Peter said. Gary Kirsten, the former South African cricketer and the World Cup winning coach for the Indian cricket team, announced that his foundation, together with The Property Foundation, collaborated to raise funds to build a cricket, soccer, rugby and basketball fields and other projects that are set to benefit the school and the community. Kirsten made the announcement when he visited the school in March. They hoped to generate about R10 million. The learners are going to use the cricket field to sharpen their talent in sport.
Abe Temmers, educator, Nguye Nqwendu, cricket player, coach Mzingisi Peter, Rian van Niekerk, coaching director for Gary Kirsten Foundation, Sivuyile Mfunelwa, Western Province Coach, Madoda Mahlutshana, principal, Nwabisa Gasa, cricket player and Nathan Motjowadi, Director for Capitec Bank School Advisory Board, during the handover of the sporting equipment in Chris Hani Arts and Culture High School, in Khayelitsha. PHOTO: MBONGISENI MASEKO