THERE WILL BE NO MORE LAUGHING IN THE STUDIO: RIP Isaac Ramaitsane "Shakes" Kungwane (2 February 1971 - 28 May 2014)

Can't believe he's gone: Shakes Kungwane

Stop the clocks on 90 minutes. End the turgid analysis. There will be no more laughing when a PSL game limps to half-time at 0-0. Shakes Kungwane is gone, at the age of 43.

Two weeks ago, the man I once called Isaac started feeling unwell. We thought it would pass. It didn't. After two days in intensive care, official news of his passing came this afternoon. Anybody who knew him just hoped it was another one of those social network rumours. It wasn't.

We will never see Kaizer Chiefs legend Shakes live in the studio again. The way he lit up those boring goalless clashes, always honest, never glib. The duo with former Mamelodi Sundowns star Zane Moosa was particularly sparky, usually resulting in both men breaking down in huge guffaws.

For me, Shakes was the go-to-guy. When interviewees were disappearing in droves on my Thursday morning show to attend training, I knew I could always rely on Shaaaaakes... not just for a chat but for a laugh, a bit of searing truth amid the guff so many spout about our beloved diski.

He wasn't like the rest. Careful to say the right thing, take the boring inoffensive way out. Shakes was pure kasi, he brought a knowledge, a depth I could never rival. When I addressed him as Isaac, he soon put me right: "Who's Isaac, Nealy?" He was a star who never accepted stardom. He would never leave Alexandra. He was always there for me, even when others turned their back.

On twitter, he never turned a fan away. He'd always respond, he'd always talk. He was superior to nobody while men with half his talent paraded around as unapproachable football and media stars.





I have a couple of interviews I can direct you towards.

There's this on Kingston Nkatha getting booed by Kaizer Chiefs fans last November: http://www.ballz.co.za/bollockz-neal-collins/shakes-kungwane-quotfans-should-not-booquot/2946 or this after Gordon Igesund's Bafana lost to Nigeria in the disastrous CHAN tournament http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/08/shake-it-up-gordon-kungwane-calls-for.html.

Mark Fish and I will spend much of tomorrow morning's Soccerballz on www.ballz.co.za talking about the man, we'll try to get Zane and Kaizer Motaung Junior to join the mourning chorus but the thing is I CAN'T BELIEVE SHAKES IS GONE.


We'll miss you big man. You and your legendary left foot. And that booming laugh. We'll never see your like again.

Zane Moosa on BOLLOCKZ! explaining Nelson Mandela Sports Day and the Bidvest Wits boom

South Africa’s leading  football analyst Zane Moosa popped in to my new show BOLLOCKZ! on Ballz radio on Thursday – after attending the launch of the Nelson Mandela Sports Day extravaganza in Sandton.

Former Mamelodi Sundowns, Wits, Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana star Moosa brought us the lowdown on the events in honour of Madiba which will see the rugby Springboks take on Argentina, our footballing Bafana Bafana versus Burkina Fosa – and he revealed an Italian legends team will take on South Africa’s veterans on the same bill at Soccer City on August 17.

Moosa said: “It’s going to be a spectacular… not just AmaBokke and Bafana but the Italian masters too – Paulo Rossi the 1982 World Cup top-scorer will be there and a lot of other household names from Italy’s best-ever side.”

Oregan Hoskins, head of the South African Rugby Union president, said: “We are doing something for someone who saved our sport and saved our society,” while Bafana coach Gordon Igesund said: "We must not forget the reason why we are doing it. We are celebrating Nelson Mandela. Our prayers are with him and it is a great occasion."

Zane, who eased himself out of the N1 traffic to visit the www.ballz.co.za offices, added: “The who’s who of South African sport were there for the launch, Irvin Khoza the head of the PSL, both the presidents of our football and rugby associations, Neil Tovey, Danny Jordaan, Francois Pienaar.

“Bryan Habana received an award from Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula for his 50 Test tries… and there were accolades for our women hockey players and netballers."

Profits from the event itself – which also features a music concert – will go to the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital.

With tickets on sale at Computicket for between R250 and R2,500, Moosa said: “This is what Nelson Mandela would have wanted. Football fans supporting rugby, rugby fans supporting football.”

BOLLOCKZ! is my new show on www.ballz.co.za. Tune in by live stream or app, from anywhere in the world, 10am-noon every Thursday. Follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol and see our backers www.topodds.com for the latest sports betting!

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