RIP: Funeral for Stanley ‘Screamer’ Tshabalala at Soweto’s Grace Bible Church

The local football fraternity will bid farewell to one of its innovators on Thursday morning as mourners gather for the funeral service of Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala at the Grace Bible Church in Pimville.

The South African football legend died in hospital last Thursday, after succumbing to injuries sustained when he was shot in his home in March.

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While Tshabalala made his mark on the football pitch, his love for sport started with boxing, where he was a student of the famous Transvaal boxing champ, Jerry Moloi.

Tshabalala would eventually hang up his gloves to devote his whole life and spirit to football, where he would earn the moniker Screamer because of his incessant shouting for the ball.

His many accomplishments include being a founding member of Kaizer Chiefs while he led Mamelodi Sundowns to various titles in the 80s.

It was during that time where he earned a reputation as Mr Piano and Shoeshine.

Tshabalala was also Bafana Bafana’s first head coach after the country’s readmission to international football in 1992.

At the time of his death, he was working as Orlando Pirates technical director.