By Khathu Ishe Mafadza

I’m struggling to come to terms with the sudden passing of the football servant Mr Milton Nembidzane.

By the time of his death, he had already found his new football home at Venda Football Academy where he was injecting more football lovers to join the club support base in Polokwane.

Chairman as he was affectionately known was a decorated football fanatic. Dating back from the days of the now-defunct Dynamos FC. When I saw the devastating news I immediately called the former Rikhomeni Ringa Peli media man Joe ‘Baba’ Mbiza who was equally shocked by the sad news.

Tribute by Khathu Ishe Mafadza
VFA Number one supporter Milton Nembidzane

Chairman was the number One Vhembe region supporter for Dynamos until their days in the second division. By that time I was still a journalist at one of the local newspapers in the province, we would go as far as Thulamahashe to go watch his favorite team play.

RIP MILTON NEMBIDZANE

He is one man who believed in me when it came to local football content. Since my departure from Limpopo province we reconnected again. Every now and then we would have a lengthy conversation about football matters. He eventually introduced me to the VFA WhatsApp group.

Milton Nembidzane a football fanatic of note
Milton Nembidzane.

Nembidzane gave his life to the beautiful game. I always asked him why he chose to support Dynamos and VFA while there is a neighbourhood club Black Leopards. His response was simple, “Dynamos came a long way back before Leopards, so I have always admired their style of play”.

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He always shared with me his best memories with Dynamos and his wish was to see the club progress to the highest level. But it was never meant to be. Chairman had a very special relationship with Dynamos owner Pat Malabela. I can vividly remember when Dynamos played Leopards in Tshifulanani stadium, he would host us for a good lunch at his house in Muledane.

This is a very sad moment for the football fraternity in Limpopo as a whole. His passion for football was just beyond unreasonable doubt.

To the VFA family death has robbed you of a giant who was loyal to the game, to the bereaved family and friends of Nembidzane stay strong in these trying times.

Rest well Chairman.