Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Mogapo o mogolo o wele, dithaga tsa lla matshogotshogo, is a popular Sepedi saying used to describe the death of a chief in a community.

This best describes the passing on of sports physician Phil Mashubathele Maepa, whose long association with Kaizer Chiefs endeared him to a lot of people. Affectionately known as Bra Phil, Maepa died last Friday after a long illness.

Until February, Maepa worked for Chiefs as team doctor. Despite the fact that many people knew that Maepa was not well for sometime, his death came as a shock. He would have turned 56 on September 25.

Maepa died at a time when South Africa is in dire need of people like him to assist our athletes with sports now becoming more scientific.

Besides working for Amakhosi, Maepa also ran a successful surgery in Siyabuswa in Mpumalanga.

Maepa was 'n volle bra, he never forgot where he came from despite the riches and fame achieved after graduating from medical school at the University of Natal in 1978.

Subsequent to that, Maepa was employed as an intern at Tembisa Hospital where he also played as a striker for Pilkington United Brothers.

He started his soccer career at amateur side Motetema Black Rangers in Limpopo.

For those who knew him well, Maepa was also an activist who did underground operations for the then banned ANC in Siyabuswa area. He will be buried at Thokwane village cemetery tomorrow. The service starts at home at 7am.