Shoes' mom boots soccer bosses

01 March 2015 - 02:00 By KHANYI NDABENI
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Three of the country's most powerful soccer bosses were barred by security from entering the hospital room of legendary player John "Shoes" Moshoeu this week.

Club bosses Irvin Khoza and Kaizer Motaung, as well as the president of the South African Football Association, Danny Jordaan, arrived at Johannesburg's Charlotte Maxeke hospital on Tuesday about 48 hours after news of Moshoeu's admission to hospital broke.

The 49-year-old former Bafana Bafana midfielder and founder of Alexandra United Football Club has been in a private wing of the government hospital for the past month.

Details of his medical condition have not been released.

The hospital, under strict instructions from his mother, Reena Moshoeu, to allow only close friends and family members, prevented the powerful trio from seeing the former player.

Safa spokesman Dominic Chimhavi confirmed the incident and said: "Shoes is one of our greatest football icons. He once represented the country in the Fifa World Cup and we want to honour him and give his family support and any financial assistance they may need.

"They asked for privacy and we will give them that, but our doors are always open."

Reena told a family friend of her pain after rumours surfaced that her son had died. "They have made me feel so much pain. They killed my son when he is alive. I couldn't believe it. When I look at him, I felt so much pain for him."

Another person at the hospital on Tuesday, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told of a scramble by people who wanted to force their way into the private ward. "Security had to be called. It was madness," he said.

Lucas Radebe and soccer agent and friend Glyn Binkin were among the few allowed to see Moshoeu this week.

"Even in his hospital bed he was full of humour and we had a good chat about how to develop football in the townships," said Radebe.

Moshoeu and Radebe played together for the national squad in the 1990s and both later played for overseas clubs. They are also neighbours in Bryanston.

"Yes, he is sick, but not dying. He was a bit tired when I visited, coming from X-ray scan, but he is definitely coming back," said Radebe. "Even though he is sick, he is well aware of what is happening around him."

When contacted by the Sunday Times this week, Reena said her son had asked her not to speak on his behalf.

"I will get out of here. I will defend myself. I will fight my fight. I don't want you to fight for me," he told her.

Hospital spokesman Lungiswa Mvumvu said Moshoeu had been responding well to treatment and would be discharged soon. This could not be confirmed by yesterday afternoon.

Moshoeu played for Kaizer Chiefs, AmaZulu and Bursaspor before he retired from professional football in 2008.

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