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Family, friends, colleagues bid farewell to Kekana

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The final whistle has been blown for respected broadcaster David Kekana. Family, friends and colleagues gathered in Johannesburg to bid farewell to a man described as intelligent and passionate about his job. The 47-year-old sports analyst died on Sunday after battling diabetes.

After nearly two decades of unpacking the beautiful game, Kekana was fondly remembered by those who crossed paths with him. Millions of South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) viewers knew him as a trusted source for soccer analysis, but his colleagues got to know him even when cameras were off.

“For SABC employees, if you’ve never fought with David then you’ve never met David. David argued with everyone, about anything, at any time. But that didn’t mean that he didn’t like you, he was just strong, opinionated, and believed in what he believed in,” said Sport journalist Kwena Moabelo.

Away from the small screen, Kekana was a devoted father to his children. “Dear daddy, thank you for the most special twelve years of my life. Thank you for the love that you gave me and my sister and brothers. I know the last two weeks were really hard. I wish I was there,” says daughter Mmamothe Kekana.

For Kekana’s mother the loss of her only son is unbearable. “To my baby boy and only son, I watched you grow from childhood to a teenager, adolescent and eventually a mature man. It breaks my heart to bid you farewell today, knowing that I will never see you or touch you physically again. But I know that your spirit remains present and that is the only way I will be able to communicate with you…” friend Andile Ncube read a message from Kekana’s mother.

Kekana joined the SABC Sport in 2000, working as a football analyst and script writer for Soccer Zone. He later joined the Soccer 411 and Sport@10 football programmes as a journalist.

 

Click below to watch the funeral service:

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