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Orlando Pirates stars of yesteryear no more

Bongiwe Khumalo

Bongiwe Khumalo

Orlando Pirates has lost two of its stalwarts from bygone days.

Allenby Mthuthuzeli "Chain Puller" Chiyi, 62, and Andrew "Malome" Phiri, 51, died last week after short illnesses.

Chiyi began his schooling at Ipatleng Primary and matriculated at Orlando High.

He played for the Orlando Pirates junior team until he was promoted to the seniors in the early 1960s.

His footballing skills led to his legion of fans nicknaming him "Chain Puller Maketang".

He was married to Nolina Shongwe and they had three children. He will be buried tomorrow at the Avalon cemetery at 10am.

Phiri worked for Stewarts & Lloyds as a stock controller and later for Clover as a merchandiser.

He married Lydia and their union was blessed with two sons, Neo, 27, and Teboho, 17.

Phiri joined Vaal Professionals and played alongside Johannes "Satch" Modise, Conti Kubheka, Master Msibi and the late Petros "Mzozo" Maleke.

In 1980 he joined Orlando Pirates and played alongside Toy Ramosa, City Maipato, Phil Setshedi, Jomo Sono and other stars of yesteryear.

His funeral service will be held at the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Centre, in Sebokeng, at 7.30am. He will be buried at the Vanderbijlpark Cemetery.

l Koketso Matlala, 23, the promising Polokwane softballer, was shot dead on Saturday in Mankweng.

From a family of sport fanatics, Matlala started playing softball at an early age.

He played at national level for both the United Schools' Sports Association of South Africa and the South African Student Sports Union.

At the time of his death he was captain of Wild Beasts, one of the most successful softball outfits in the country.

He will be buried tomorrow in Lebowakgomo.

Softballers will bid him farewell by chanting "Man safe! Man Home!"

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