Shoes Moshoeu: A gentle giant has fallen
ALEXANDRA - Condolences are pouring in for the late Bafana Bafana star midfielder John 'Shoes’ Moshoeu, who has been described as a 'gentle giant' by Alexandra United, the team he last coached before his death.
Condolences are pouring in for the late Bafana Bafana star midfielder John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu, who has been described as a ‘gentle giant’ by Alexandra United, the team he last coached before his death.
One of the directors of the Hope City Giants, as United is affectionately known in Alex, Nick Nicolaou described Moshoeu as not just a coach of the team but a close friend as well. “A true one in a million person, humble unassuming and a true gentleman.”
“John was truly an exceptional man who kept below the radar and yet affected many people’s lives in a very positive way. He was looking after so many people in so many different ways. He was a gentle giant.”
“Without telling anyone, he took many children under his wing and provided for them both financially and spiritually and put them through school and provided them with food and accommodation and no one was aware of this. He was and will always be remembered as a true legend,” Nicolaou said.
He said John’s passion for football was unparalleled. “He would call me at 3am in the morning and discuss football. He ate, slept and breathed football.” Nicolaou said he will be sorely missed in the entire football fraternity and may his soul rest in peace.
The Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association also conveyed its condolences to Moshoeu’s family, Alex United Football Club, the community of Alexandra and the people around his 12th Avenue home in Alex.
“We are saddened by the sad news of his death when the ANLFA was celebrating the sod turning for a project he would have loved with all his heart as he was so passionate about football,” said secretary general of Alex football, Mafika Morajane.
Knowing ‘Shoes’ as a player in his days and later a coach of Alex United, Morajane remembers one day when they had an argument about the lining at the stadium before their game against Vardos and Khotso Mofolo. They had to run around looking for the line marking machine to fix the lines.
“He was such a perfectionist and a lover of all things football and wanted to see them done right all the time. This was when I noticed the humility in ‘Shoes’, his humble, polite and understanding personality even in difficult times.
“We will miss him dearly not only for his dribbling wizardry and fast pace on the pitch, but also his kindness off it. May his soul rest in peace.”
