ONLY days after enquiring about the wellbeing of Christopher Baba Pekane, I received a chilling message from my brother George that he had passed away on Monday.
ONLY days after enquiring about the wellbeing of Christopher Baba Pekane, I received a chilling message from my brother George that he had passed away on Monday.
Chris, a product of Ndofaya, as Meadowlands is popularly referred to, was an achiever, an intellectual and a former soccer player who could have attained professional status had he so desired.
His father, Pax Pekane, was the founder and president of Meadowlands Celtic. Those of us who had left Meadowlands Young Zebras to form Celtic were simply mesmerised by the skill Chris displayed from a young age.
It was not surprising that he was among the young talent that was flown to Brazil to train and play with some of the top players in that country. They were trained by the legendary Englishman Sir Stanley Matthews.
Chris was impressed since he regarded Brazil as the best footballing country in the world. Chris would never entertain appreciation of other countries such as Argentina, France, England or Germany. No wonder his nephew is known as "Brazil".
A flamboyant dresser and socialite, Chris was best known as a liquor sales representative since he spent his working days introducing different brands to consumers.
At the time of his death he was a manager at Pernod Ricard South Africa. In his amiable nature, Chris was given to rescuing people in trouble. He was generous with his promotional stock, supplying people who had a good taste for life but could not afford it.
In the last two years Chris was struck by sugar diabetes and was in and out of hospital. The last time I saw him he was a bit gaunt but healthy.
His brother Joas later told me he was admitted to hospital, saying he was recovering, but fate had decided that he had run his race.
Chris will be buried at Roodepoort Cemetery tomorrow. The service will be held at Bapedi Hall in Zone 3, Meadowlands, at 8am and the cortege will leave for the cemetery at 11am.
CHRIS WAS A GENEROUS SOCIALITE
ONLY days after enquiring about the wellbeing of Christopher Baba Pekane, I received a chilling message from my brother George that he had passed away on Monday.
ONLY days after enquiring about the wellbeing of Christopher Baba Pekane, I received a chilling message from my brother George that he had passed away on Monday.
Chris, a product of Ndofaya, as Meadowlands is popularly referred to, was an achiever, an intellectual and a former soccer player who could have attained professional status had he so desired.
His father, Pax Pekane, was the founder and president of Meadowlands Celtic. Those of us who had left Meadowlands Young Zebras to form Celtic were simply mesmerised by the skill Chris displayed from a young age.
It was not surprising that he was among the young talent that was flown to Brazil to train and play with some of the top players in that country. They were trained by the legendary Englishman Sir Stanley Matthews.
Chris was impressed since he regarded Brazil as the best footballing country in the world. Chris would never entertain appreciation of other countries such as Argentina, France, England or Germany. No wonder his nephew is known as "Brazil".
A flamboyant dresser and socialite, Chris was best known as a liquor sales representative since he spent his working days introducing different brands to consumers.
At the time of his death he was a manager at Pernod Ricard South Africa. In his amiable nature, Chris was given to rescuing people in trouble. He was generous with his promotional stock, supplying people who had a good taste for life but could not afford it.
In the last two years Chris was struck by sugar diabetes and was in and out of hospital. The last time I saw him he was a bit gaunt but healthy.
His brother Joas later told me he was admitted to hospital, saying he was recovering, but fate had decided that he had run his race.
Chris will be buried at Roodepoort Cemetery tomorrow. The service will be held at Bapedi Hall in Zone 3, Meadowlands, at 8am and the cortege will leave for the cemetery at 11am.