Ajax Cape Town defender Cecil Lolo, 27, was given a hero’s send-off in his home village of Chebe in Centane yesterday, but the funeral service was marred by attacks on Ajax led by sport, recreation, arts and culture MEC Pemmy Majodina.Lolo died two weeks ago in a car crash in Khayelitsha in Cape Town.
Majodina and several other speakers took turns taking swipes at the Cape Town-based football club, which was not represented at the funeral until two-and- half-hours into the service, when coach Roger De Sá and Ajax chairman Ari Efstathiou arrived.
None of the club’s players attended.
De Sá and Efstathiou turned down the opportunity to address the hundreds of mourners on behalf of Ajax.
Efstathiou told the Dispatch that their late arrival was due to the fact they were given wrong directions on how to get to the rural area, adding: “The whole club wanted to be here but the situation was a little bit difficult.”
Majodina also unleashed blows at the Western Cape government, which was not represented at the funeral.
“They have made money out of this young man’s talent but find it too expensive to attend his funeral,” said Majodina.
To the Western Cape government, she said: “Had the organisation of the people been in government there where Lolo played his football, they would have followed Lolo to his final resting place but the government of the day there is nowhere to be seen today.”
Representing Safa Amathole, Ace Siyongwana threw jabs at Ajax, saying they were “ungrateful even though Lolo won them the MTN8 Cup”.
Safa Cape Town official Vusumzi Shinto concurred.
Majodina described Lolo as a “hero of our country”, whom she was confident would have earned a call-up to the national team and be the answer to “our weak Bafana Bafana”.
Lolo started playing football in his early teenage years for Khayelitsha team African Tribes FC, before he joined Juventus, where he was spotted by Ajax.
Lolo’s friend Khwezi Feni, said Lolo was both larger than life and the most humble of souls.
“He was all smiles and cheerful at all times, regardless of the circumstances, and he loved his family,” said Feni.
Majodina lashes out at Lolo’s funeral
Lolo died two weeks ago in a car crash in Khayelitsha in Cape Town.
Majodina and several other speakers took turns taking swipes at the Cape Town-based football club, which was not represented at the funeral until two-and- half-hours into the service, when coach Roger De Sá and Ajax chairman Ari Efstathiou arrived.
None of the club’s players attended.
De Sá and Efstathiou turned down the opportunity to address the hundreds of mourners on behalf of Ajax.
Efstathiou told the Dispatch that their late arrival was due to the fact they were given wrong directions on how to get to the rural area, adding: “The whole club wanted to be here but the situation was a little bit difficult.”
Majodina also unleashed blows at the Western Cape government, which was not represented at the funeral.
“They have made money out of this young man’s talent but find it too expensive to attend his funeral,” said Majodina.
To the Western Cape government, she said: “Had the organisation of the people been in government there where Lolo played his football, they would have followed Lolo to his final resting place but the government of the day there is nowhere to be seen today.”
Representing Safa Amathole, Ace Siyongwana threw jabs at Ajax, saying they were “ungrateful even though Lolo won them the MTN8 Cup”.
Safa Cape Town official Vusumzi Shinto concurred.
Majodina described Lolo as a “hero of our country”, whom she was confident would have earned a call-up to the national team and be the answer to “our weak Bafana Bafana”.
Lolo started playing football in his early teenage years for Khayelitsha team African Tribes FC, before he joined Juventus, where he was spotted by Ajax.
Lolo’s friend Khwezi Feni, said Lolo was both larger than life and the most humble of souls.
“He was all smiles and cheerful at all times, regardless of the circumstances, and he loved his family,” said Feni.
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