The Presidency has confirmed that the late Free State Stars founding owner, Mike Mokoena, will be accorded a Special Provincial Official Funeral Category 2.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has instructed that the national flag flies at half-mast in the Free State on the day of Mokoena’s funeral service. He will be laid to rest on Friday in Bethlehem.
The 68-year-old Mokoena was one of the founding members of the NSL, and long-serving member of the Premier Soccer League.
“Bro Mike” – as Mokoena was endearingly known – died last Wednesday after a long battle against cancer.
In the video below, Mike Mokoena remembered for his goodwill deeds:
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 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.
Ea Lla Koto, as Stars are endearingly called, were relegated in the 2005/6 season. Even though the Stars did well in the 2017/18 season by claiming the Nedbank Cup, they got relegated the following season.
![[FILE IMAGE] William Nicol Drive, during the start of the Covid-19 lockdown.](https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SABC-News_William-Nicol-intersection_by-Dinilohlanga-Mekuto-120x86.png)
