SEDIBENG.- TOUCHLINE pays homage to the two fallen heroes, former VUT Athletics Club Ian Harries and former Kaizer Chiefs legends Fran “Jiggles” Pereira.
These two have played a significant role in our sport, athletics and football respectively.
In the past, this region had prolific runners like Frank Pooe, John Morapedi, Richard Mavuso, and Enoc Skosana to mention but a few. Ian Harries contributed to the development of athletics in this region during his days with VUT which saw this institution attract some of the highly prolific athletes such as Mbulani Mulaudzi.
This was the era when the Vaal Triangle was dominating South African athletes.
Coach Ian Harries will go down the history of athletes as one of the few coaches from a white community who believed in black children’s talent. This fallen legend spent his whole athletics life serving black children. TOUCHLINE will always honour and cherish your contribution Coach Harries and always remember you for your selfness in developing a black child from the poor of the poorest communities in Sedibeng.
You have left a legacy for everyone to see with so much up and up-and-coming athletics coaches you developed for this region.
“Jingles”, as he was affectionally was one of the few players from the white communities to play for a big team like Kaizer Chiefs. He played for Amakhosi at the time when Kaizer Chiefs dominated South African football to the point where it was called Cup Specialist. However, truth must be told, Kaizer Chiefs is no longer the same team that used to be when Pereira and others used to play for this Phefeni Glamour Boys.
The club has become a shadow of itself for the past ten years despite changing coaches like baby’s disposable nappies. However, this is a story for another day, for now, TOUCHLINE pays homage to these two legends in sports.
They have played their part in sports and they have left a legacy for the up-and-coming generations to carry on with.
REST IN PEACE legends!
