Mzion Mofokeng: No 1 Pirates fan: Obituaries

Johannes Mzion Mofokeng, Orlando Pirates "Number One Supporter", died this week aged 61.

He was the only person I knew who hitched a lift in an aircraft to watch a soccer match in "darkest Africa".

Mzion lived for his beloved Buccaneers, loved his Bafana Bafana and centred his existence around all things black and white and green and yellow.

So much so that he once hitch-hiked to Ndjamena, Chad, to watch when Carlos Alberto Parreira took Bafana there for the Brazilian's maiden game in charge of the would- be World Cup hosts.

That day, Mofokeng was scheduled to fly with the team and his best friend, Freddy Saddam Maake, another colourful football supporter, but he missed the flight.

If he had had his way, Maake would have delayed the flight but he cut a solemn figure as the big metal bird departed Mzansi without his mate.

With his trademark slight limp, a dejected Mzion was already preparing to head back home when he recognised familiar faces checking-in equipment and preparing to board at the OR Tambo Airport. He begged the SABC crew for a lift in their chartered flight and nobody could say no.

He caught everyone by surprise when he hobbled into the Kempinski Hotel in Ndjamena blowing his vuvuzela.

Maake, who was lonely and bored stiff, ran across to give his mate a tight bear-hug. Without further ado, they hit their notes and started rehearsing their war cries and were later seen at the stadium singing and blowing their horns as Bafana beat Chad 3-0.

Mzion was the vice president of the SA Football Supporters' Association (Safsa) at the time of his death.

He became a household name as he crisscrossed the country following his beloved Sea Robbers, bedecked in his favourite ghost catsuit, even when his eyesight was deserting him because of his diabetic condition. He also had trouble with cataracts and had an operation to remove them in 2009.

He told the Sowetan newspaper at the time: "I have missed only one game in the past 50 years and that was because I was in hospital having this operation."

Safa acting chief executive Pinky Lehoko, hailed Mofokeng as a passionate and loyal member.

"Mzion was a charismatic fan and a loyal servant of the game, he loved his club Orlando Pirates. He was passionate about all our national teams, and he was the face of South African football."

He will be a happy camper in the arrivals hall in heaven and will deliver terrific tidings of the treble to Percy "Chippa" Moloi, Eric "Scara" Sono, Lesley "Slow Poison" Manyathela and Zodwa Khoza and others.

Mofokeng will be buried today. The funeral service will be at the Saul Tsotetsi Hall in Sebokeng at 8am and the cortege will proceed to the Evaton cemetery at 11am.