Football flowed in veins of Alex’s ‘natural-born’ coach

The late Mpendulo Welcome ‘Sandawana’ Gegana was described as one of Alex’s most distinguished football servants who gave it all to the beautiful game in whatever capacity.

This is how the secretary-general of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association, Malvin Khumalo remembers the man who gave 100 per cent to the game, including his life. “He gave all his time for football. I spent a lot of time with him during his time while he was assisting the LFA office.

“We would eat inyama yenhloko [skop] during lunchtime, debating and arguing over football. He believed so much in the traditional way of football and he would keep on saying to me, ‘You people that coach with the book will never win against me, as much as I have the experience, football runs in my veins’.”

Gegana (55), popularly known in Alex by his first name, Mpendulo, died on 20 January from complications of his type 2 diabetes which just sprung up on him during the hard lockdown of last year. He was in and out of hospital in June last year and was diagnosed with type2 diabetes and prescribed to administer daily insulin injections.

Khumalo added, “We would laugh over such [text-book coaches] but overall he was a great gentleman who gave his 100 per cent to football. We both supported Mamelodi Sundowns and when we lost the game we’d be scrutinising the results, hoping our eyes were not deceiving us. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

Born in 1966 in Mount Frere, now known as KwaBhaca, in the Eastern Cape, Mpendulo obtained a Standard 6 high school qualification and played football before moving over to Alexandra in Johannesburg in 1984 to seek for employment.

Soon after his arrival in Alex, he was quickly recognised for his football talent and joined and played for Alex Charlton FC before eventually turning coach for his club. He never held any football coaching qualification but armed with his ‘natural-born coaching skills’, he amazed many.

He has been a volunteer member of the technical staff of various clubs in Alexandra, among them Gauteng FC and Gunners, both of whom he took to the SAB League.

Those that played at Ground No.1 in the late ’80s and early ’90s will remember him for his love, passion and commitment to junior football in the township.

“He was always there with the likes of the longest-serving and legendary Alex football administrator, the late Ntate Molepo,” said Maisha Molepo, president of the Alex Northrand LFA.

“Mpendulo saw most of us play and grow from the U12 league right through the rungs to the masters. That’s well over three decades of football. He will surely be missed. Hamba Kahle Mpendulo and thank you for your selfless service over the many, many years”.