LIMPOPO – Sports personality and former coach of Venda athletics and netball teams, Mamba Patrick Nthangeni (69) passed away at a private hospital in Polokwane on April 21 following a long illness.
In his lifetime, Nthangeni served as the coach of the Univen and Venda netball teams and was also a coach at the former Finyazwananda Technical College, now known as Vhembe FET.
His wife, Louisa Nthangeni said the family was proud to have produced “a most valuable member of the community”.
She said her husband had played a significant role in uplifting the standard of netball, athletics, and education in the local community. “We are saddened to have lost someone like him, but we understand that God has taken him from us for a reason.”
Conso Makhura, who collaborated with Nthangeni in the development of netball and athletics, described him as a community builder who was larger than life.
“He was always there when we needed him. Now that he is gone, we fear that no one will be able to fill his shoes because he is irreplaceable”.
Nthangeni was laid to rest in the Mbaleni Cemetery on April 27.
