Mourners at the funeral service of the Free State Stars’ founding owner, Mike Mokoena, have described him as an epitome of selflessness.
“Bro Mike” as he was affectionately known, died last week Wednesday after losing a battle to cancer. He was 68-years-old.
The funeral service is underway in Bethlehem, in the Free State.
Mokoena strived for the better part of his life building Free State Stars to the brand it is today.
Former Free State stars player and current Golden Arrows coach, Steve Kompela, says he is a reflection of the late Mokena.
He has praised “Bro Mike” for his dedication to building others. Kompela says Mokoena was a philanthropist.
“Provide leadership he did and shared leadership. He valued people, he did develop people and build communities, he did more than that he had all of those things.”
In the video below, Mike Mokoena remembered for his goodwill deeds:
Mokoena was also one of the founding members of the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
He is accorded a Special Provincial Official Funeral Category Two.
President Cyril Ramaphosa instructed that the national flag flies at half-mast in the Free State on Friday.
Mokoena’s club was formed at the Makwane village in QwaQwa 43 years ago.
He, however, sold the status to the PSL in 2002 when the league reduced clubs from 18 to 16.
Mokoena later bought the status of the first division club, Maholosiane FC, in 2003.
Among other honours, they became Second Division champions in 1985, and won the 1994 Coca Cola Cup against Hellenic, in the game in which former striker, Bunene Ngaduane was unstoppable.
Mokoena’s insatiable lust for football did not end there.
Under his stewardship, the club regained their Premiership status in 2005 after winning the then Mvela Golden League.
