East London soccer boss Siphiwo “Mawawa” Nyobo was still savouring the sweet taste of victory when he was gunned down in an apparent hit outside East London’s North End Stadium on Saturday.
Nyobo’s last hours were spent watching his team, Tornado FC, thrash ABC Motsepe League newcomers Birmingham City FC 4-1.
A few minutes after the final whistle, Nyobo left the stadium and his vehicle was ambushed, reportedly by three young gunmen on foot who made their getaway in a waiting car.
The businessman, 68, was shot repeatedly in the torso.
His driver, a woman, was wounded in the shooting along with a passerby.
A witness, who had been socialising with the injured bystander, told the Daily Dispatch they were preparing for a braai when the shots rang out.
“We were all gathered for the braai and he [passerby] was on his way with the meat.
“We first thought it was fireworks but when we went out to see we discovered he had been shot in both legs. We called ambulances but a good Samaritan rushed him to hospital,” the witnesses said.
Nyobo – who was also a taxi owner and a traditional healer who ran the Mawawa Traditional Healers Institute – had been in a jovial mood, and so overjoyed after his team’s victory that he was spotted handing a R100 note to a toddler.
Dispatch journalist Mfundo Piliso was among the last people to speak with him.
During their conversation after the match, Nyobo reiterated his ambition to see Tornado compete in the National First Division. He had high hopes his team would retain their third-tier league title and reach the ABC Motsepe League promotional playoffs again this year.
The soft-spoken football lover believed his “boys” would make his dreams come true. Consecutive victories came after having to juggle their league commitments with the Nedbank Cup that recently saw them hosting Kaizer Chiefs at Mdantsane’s Sisa Dukashe Stadium and giving the top-tier team a run for its money.
“I can really see us going through to reach the playoffs now. The boys have picked up again because there was a period where I thought to myself we should just take it easy on them and not put pressure,” said Nyobo after Saturday’s match at North End stadium.
“But they’ve regained their confidence and we’ve been winning all our games now, home and away, and should we win more games we’ll secure our place in the playoffs.”
Just minutes after this upbeat interview, Nyobo’s lifeless body lay slumped in the vehicle.
It lay there for more than 30 minutes as police combed the scene, identifying bullet holes in the side of the car and more than a dozen cartridges scattered across Lennox Street.
Soccer fans, football club owners, Nyobo’s son and passersby stared at the car, which had come to a standstill on the pavement, in disbelief. Some were close to tears.
Twenty-four hours later, emotions ran high at Nyobo’s NU17 home during a visit by sport and recreation MEC Bulelwa Tunyiswa.
Tornado supporters and Nyobo’s traditional healer trainees wept openly as Tunyiswa addressed them.
“We must organise for him a fitting send-off that will show he really was a people’s person,” the MEC said. “This is how the devil works when it is election time, wanting people to be suspicious of each other. Let the law take its course while we prepare for the funeral.”
Tunyiswa urged Safa bosses to support the Tornado players.
“We hope these youngsters who were playing for Tornado will not be dumped. Somebody must take care of them.”
Safa Buffalo City head Prince Sibam called on the metro to improve the conditions and security at its sport facilities.
“We have a serious challenge of facilities. You end up having a team from Mdantsane being force to play in an environment they are not used to.
“It is a place where they are not in charge of the security, where there is even a shebeen inside the stadium,” he said.
Boxing SA’s Phakamile Jacobs said Nyobo was with a family friend, the wife of an initiate, when he was gunned down.
Nyobo’s relative, Stephen Landu, said the family had opted to bury Nyobo on March 17, as Tornado was scheduled to play a match on March 16.
However, Safa deputy president Xolile Nkompela said if the family wanted to bury him on the Saturday, that could be arranged.
Uncedo Taxi Association’s Gebs Mtshali said the hit on Nyobo reeked of the type of killings often seen in the taxi industry.
The shockwaves around Nyobo’s death extended to the South African football fraternity. “We are saddened by another loss of life and on behalf of the soccer family‚ would like to extend profound condolences to the family‚ club and friends of Nyobo. We call upon the law enforcement agents to track down the culprits who carried out this dastardly act‚ and bring them to book‚” said Safa president Danny Jordaan.
East London Central LFA president Gavin van Rooyen expressed his shock and sorrow. The association is based at North End Stadium.
“On behalf of the executive, clubs and communities of East London Central local football association, our heartfelt condolences to his [Nyobo] family and friends, and to the club members and supporters of Tornado FC,” said Van Rooyen.
Police spokesperson Captain Hezel Mqala said the motive for the shooting and killing was unknown and the perpetrators were still at large. – Additional Reporting by TimesLive..