Erstwhile midfield maestro Skeke Magic Makhura will be one of the coaches during the year-end tournaments.
He was likened by many of his devoted followers to a persuasive soccer version of Rhema’s Pastor Ray McCauley.
Skeke Peter Makhura, affectionately known as Bra Pita and lumped with the moniker of Magic during his spectacular and acclaimed playing career waits at this moment for the fulfilment of his calling for the year-end tournaments.
Whether this icon of local football achieves what may seem to be his ultimate ambition to win one of the competitions scheduled for this festive season remains open for a great deal of conjecture.
Although the 67-year-old legend was good during his prime as a player, Makhura remains a dark horse in the coaching faculty.
He said, “Many people still don’t understand my game philosophy. That spells exciting moments for me because the opposition will find it hard to counteract on us. It is a combination of my playing style and an introduction to the modern game.”
Some of his zealous, unwavering supporters see him as one of the saviours of local football.
Raised in Moeglek village in the Waterberg District, Makhura was a football genius who could communicate with a soccer ball in congruence.
As his nickname Magic suggests, he fashioned an exciting but completely deferent style of play that always had opponents guessing and chasing shadows long after he had long past.
Explaining his technique, Makhuran said, “My method was being simple without being overly simplistic as I left opposition defenders flat-footed and gasping in my wake.”
He added that: “I was like an army general… When I was a bit tired, I would bring an extremely fast-paced game to an almost halt at will. With the ball in my possession, proceedings would be slowed down to my advantage and that of my teammates.”
The magic did not end there.
Makhura was an extremely an accurate passer of the ball, albeit how he managed this was a mystery: he barely lifted his head but his eyes seemed to be always glued to the ground when he was in possession.
Makhura’s coaching commitments during the upcoming festive season will have the old-timers who were there during his prime indulging in nostalgia and reminiscence.
For starters, Magic was not called that for nothing.
He was once described as the greatest footballer his home village has even produced.
Long before the multitudes issued that verdict, Makhura had already been recognised as a footballing gem who could have played for any of the premier clubs in the country is opportunities went his way.