Alex football stalwart was buried on Sunday

This was after a funeral service held at the Altrek Sports Complex in Eastbank, which was attended and organised by the Premier Soccer League in conjunction with Taunyane family.

Taunyane whose Setswana name means a small lion, died on October 30 at age 85.

Taunyane was one of the most outstanding football administrators in Alexandra as president of the local football association and later the National Soccer league.

Taunyane was life president of the Premier Soccer League and also first life president of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association.

In honour of his memory, the local football association under president Maisha Molepo indefinitely suspended all football activity to honour ‘our stalwart’.

Among his many roles in the National Soccer League, Taunyane was the brains behind the now defunct Telkom Charity Cup which was a community shield for the less fortunate.

Taunyane began his football administration career in Alexandra in the 1960s, and was a teacher and later principal of Alex High School.

Update: 9am, 4 November

Premier Soccer League rookies Polokwane City has extended its deepest condolences to the Taunyane family and football fraternity following the passing away of revered administrator Dr Leepile Taunyane on 30 October.

A teacher, mentor and one of the most humble people to have served football with flying colours, the 85 year old Taunyane, who was the league’s life president, has surely left a big void not only to his family but to all soccer lovers,” said City’s communication manager Patrick Baloyi.

Baloyi. described Taunyane as having an unassuming and calm demeanour whose insightfulness and great wisdom especially during difficult times was there to see as he played a key role in turning things around for the league to become one of the best in the world today.

Meanwhile, City has launched its official website in accordance with the rules and regulations of the league. “It’s exciting that we managed to have our own website where we will be able to interact with our fans across the country,” Baloyi said.

Update: 3:45pm, 1 November

Condolences are pouring in for the Alexandra football stalwart Dr Leepile Taunyane, who was the life president of the Premier Soccer League and also first life president of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association who passed away on 30 October.

Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Lebogang Maile said his department has learned with sadness of the untimely death of the indomitable Gauteng Sport Awards Lifetime Achiever.

“Dr Taunyane was a great leader who epitomised integrity both in his personal life and the exercise of leadership,” said Maile. “Through his role as a teacher and principal, he was among the key architects of our democratic dispensation.

“He was a selfless leader with a stern work ethic and amazing energy. He was a torch bearer of development and a firm believer in working democratic institutions that deliver.”

As life president of the Premier Soccer League, Maile said Taunyane was instrumental in its social responsibility programmes, and the league itself became a formidable entity in the drive for progress in football. “We are deeply saddened by his passing,” he said. “We convey our condolences to his family, friends and the entire sporting fraternity.”

President of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association Maisha Molepo said Taunyane played a pivotal role in shaping the smooth running of football in Alexandra today.
“On behalf of Alex football and the football fraternity, we would like to send our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Taunyane family,” he said.

“We would like them to know that the loss of Dr Taunyane is not just a loss to them but to the entire football community in Alexandra and the township itself, for which Taunyane served tirelessly for his entire life.”

Molepo said the association will be represented by its second life president, Moss Selolo who will deliver an address at Taunyane’s funeral service. Molepo asked all football clubs affiliated and not affiliated to the association to come in their numbers to the funeral service and to wear their soccer kits to honour the fallen stalwart.

He said Alfred Nzo Street, Rev Sam Buti and Eastbank avenues will be closed on Sunday morning to allow for the funeral procession from the 10th Avenue EME Church to the Altrek Sports Complex on Eastbank Avenue.

Secretary general of the football association, Mafika Morajane said a football fraternity memorial service will be held at the Alexandra Stadium on 1 November and all clubs were urged to attend at 6pm.

Update: 3pm, 1 November

The funeral service for the lion of South African football and Alexandra resident Dr Leepile Taunyane will be held at Altrek Sports Complex in Alexandra on 3 November starting at 9am.

Taunyane whose Setswana name means a small lion, died on October 30 at age 85 and will be buried at the Malboro Cemetery.

Taunyane was one of the most outstanding football administrators in Alexandra as president of the local football association and later the National Soccer league.

The funeral was announced by the chairman of the Premier Soccer League Dr Irvin Khoza in consultation with the Taunyane family. Taunyane was life president of the Premier Soccer League and also first life president of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association.

In honour of his memory, the local football association under president Maisha Molepo has indefinitely suspended all football activity to honour ‘our stalwart’. Molepo will honour Taunyane on the local radio station on 1 November.

Among his many roles in the National Soccer League, Taunyane was the brains behind the now defunct Telkom Charity Cup which was a community shield for the less fortunate.

Taunyane began his football administration career in Alexandra in the 1960s, and was a teacher and later principal of Alex High School.

Update: 11am, 31 October

Alexandra resident, teacher and outstanding football administrator Dr Leepile Taunyane has died.

Taunyane (85), who surname means a small lion, was a legendary football administrator who lived in Alexandra. He passed away at the Brendhurst Clinic shortly after being admitted with breathing problems.

Premier Soccer League released a statement in which they expressed their members sadness of Tauyane’s passing. “It is with sadness and regret that we inform you of the passing of the Premier Soccer League Life President, Dr Leepile Taunyane.

“The league’s executive committee will meet with the family soon,” the league’s statement said. League chairman Dr Irvin ‘Iron Duke’ Khoza, who was mentored by Taunyane, described him as “my teacher, mentor and later colleague”. Taunyane was admitted to hospital on 26 October after experiencing difficulty in breathing. He passed away on 30 October.

“I paid him a visit at Brendhurst Clinic the day before his death. It was midday when I arrived. He was in the Intensive Care Ward. His eyes were permanently shut with the only movement occurring in his chest area as he was breathing with the aid of a machine.

“I softly spoke to him, like I have done in the last 50 years, when I needed his counsel. About five minutes into my talking to him, the monitoring machines’ alarm started flashing, an indication the nurse told me of brain activity. I could not help feeling this was the last time I was talking to him,” said Khoza.

“He was one of a kind. He gave education a good name. A man of integrity who dedicated his life to serve the nation selflessly,” Khoza added. Among his many roles in the National Soccer League, Taunyane was the brains behind the now defunct, Telkom Charity Cup, which was a community shield for less fortunate.

Taunyane began his football career in the Alexandra Local Football Association in the 1960’s as a teacher and later principal of Alex High School. In the 1970’s, he met a young Khoza, then an Alex resident before moving to Diepkloof in Soweto, whom he mentored to a great leader and administrator he is today.