We Miss You Manelo, where are you?
In an era where songs were banned by the ruthless, oppressive apartheid regime, singing We Miss You Mandela wouldn't have passed the muster.
In order for the song to escape the apartheid censors, the clever black that is Sello "Chicco" Twala changed Mandela to Manelo.
The apartheid apparatchiks were oblivious. In their ignorant bliss, them dumbos let the song blaze on the state-controlled wireless. In football, Manelo became the moniker of Joseph Rapelego, the erstwhile Moroka Swallows midfield star who took his life in November 2009.
In 1993, a Swallows side brimming with prodigious talent - names such as Andries "Chaka Chaka" Mpondo, Eric "Dambai" Ramasike, Sipho Sikhonde come to mind - were prevented to soar to the summit of the National Soccer League log on the last day by Mamelodi Sundowns, who forced the Beautiful Birds to settle for second spot.
Rapelego had a twin in that midfield, Steven Sekano, who was resourceful, industrious and inventive. If Rapelego was the ball of energy and Mpondo the intelligent instigator, Sekano was the busy bee who fetched and carried, attacked and defended with equanimity.
These days, Sekano, who played for Spartak, Orlando Pirates, Jomo Cosmos, Swallows and Cape Town Spurs before retiring in 1997, gives of his diligent and hard-working self to causes aimed at mitigating the situation of the downtrodden around him.
His Steve Sekano Foundation, founded early this year, has adopted the Emadwaleni High School in Phomolong, Soweto. The school has 420 boys and 250 girls who come mainly from the nearby Mzihlophe hostels.
"Most days they arrive at school without having had anything to eat, sometimes for days," Sekano shares.
"It is an abnormal situation which has become normal in our country. How can we not intervene? Look, I don't have much, but am looking at doing whatever little to contribute in making a change."
Emadwaleni principal Vuyo Mkwanazi shares Sekano's sentiment.
"Most of their parents are unemployed. Others come from child-headed families.
"Some come from Turffontein and parts of Hillbrow and Berea. The department of basic education helps with the school nutrition programme. But what happens to these children when they go back home, especially those dependent on the meagre grants of their grandparents?"
By doing what he is doing, Sekano, who has never taken a drag of a cig or a drop of alcohol, is a life teacher to these children. The norm is a recovered addict who relates how he drowned in the decadence of drugs and a pool of alcohol.
"Having a person like Sekano, who comes with a different approach, who says you should not even try drugs and drinking, sends a different message to these young black minds and is humbling," argues Mkwanazi.
Mkwanazi is mainly passionate about a mentorship programme for the boys, "because, and I'm not being sexist here, there is a lot of support for the girl child it feels like the boys are getting left behind".
South Africa, Sekano requests funding that can take the form of food parcels, school uniforms and sporting equipment.
His commitment to causes to uplift his community is unquestionable. As part of the Soul City project, he has cycled from Johannesburg to Cape Town and Joburg to Durban in 2014 and 2015 respectively to highlight HIV/Aids awareness.
The characterisation of a soccer player, at least in the South African context, is he who has a high frequency for booze binges, six to six parties, dabbling in drugs and God knows what else.
Sober Sekano is asking you to join hands with him to help those who can't help themselves. Times are tough in our country, but let us help where we can. Please let me know how you wish to assist on bbk@sundaytimes.co.za..