After serving the communities with dedication for 53 solid years, a well-known traditional leader and soccer legend, Chief Ratshilumela Enos Mmbi, was laid to rest at the Maniini cemetery last Friday evening.

Born at Gaba village outside Thohoyandou 81 years ago, the late Enos Mmbi started school at Georgenholtzs Primary School in 1940. He moved from one school to the next, until he managed to pass Grade 10, or the Junior Certificate as it was called then, in 1954. He went to the Fort Cox College of Agriculture in Ciskei the following year and received his diploma as an agricul-tural technician in 1957.

He came back home where he was appointed as clerk of the court at the Sibasa Magistrate’s Court in 1958. He worked for two years before he was appointed an agricultural technician in the Department of Agriculture.

He was actively involved in the development of local football from the early seventies. He was a founder member of Shayandima Home Sweepers about 35 years ago. The club was renamed after the team’s sponsors as time went by. Some of the names which the club was known with include Shayandima Pitco Pirates, Shayandima Ford Stars, Shayandima Bobs Stars and finally Shayandima Dynamos.

When the club was promoted to the National First Division 12 years ago, they sold the franchise, as it was difficult for them to run the team from their own coffers. Some of the famous players who were mentored by Mmbi include Pro Maluma, Moses “Dancing Shoes” Tshilate, Chippa Mathode and Ivy Mathuba.

He was installed Chief of the Lukunde area at Maniini 30 years ago.

All the speakers who shared the podium during the funeral ceremony described Chief Ratshilumela Mmbi as a loyal community servant. He finally succumbed to a long illness on Saturday, October 10.