Former Bafana Bafana head coach Shakes Mashaba received a heartfelt gesture when South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan visited him in hospital and presented him with an Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal.
Mashaba has been at Johannesburg's Helen Joseph Hospital for several days with a suspected bladder infection.
“Your visit is such a pleasant surprise, but the AFCON bronze medal is the cherry on the icing," Mashaba said during Jordaan's visit. "We all follow this Bafana Bafana team under coach Hugo Broos and we are very proud.”
On the visit, beleaguered SAFA president Jordaan said: “A lot of people have poured their hearts and souls into our national teams and Shakes Mashaba is one of them. Don’t forget that Shakes also coached the South African junior national teams.
"So, it is fitting that he is recognised for his contribution and dedication to his country over the years. More importantly, we are here to visit him and offer our support.”
Mashaba was at the helm of Bafana Bafana from 2002 to 2004, and again between 2014 and 2016. During the 2023 AFCON, Broos' team defied all expectations and walked away from the tournament with a bronze medal.
Earlier this week, Mashaba's family raised concern over the help he was receiving at the public hospital in Auckland Park, saying he went for days without being seen by doctors.
“He was admitted on the 27th of January. He was very bad. His tongue was swollen and closed the airways. The care is not good. Remember, this is a public hospital, so it has its own challenges. The coach didn’t see a doctor for a day or two,” a family spokesperson said in a Radio 2000 interview.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi speaking after visiting former Bafana Bafana head coach Ephraim Shakes Mashaba in hospital.
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This complaint led to Gauteng premier and former Moroka Swallows owner Panyaza Lesufi visiting the 74-year-old.
“I dropped everything to come and see him. If a national icon would entrust his life to us as government, I felt [I needed] to make sure everything is fine. I’m really impressed with the way the hospital has handled the matter, and the manner in which he is recovering,” the Premier said when speaking to SABC Sport.
“He’s in a jolly mood. He appreciated our presence. He felt touched that we came to see him. It is national icons like this that must be our messengers on the work that we are doing. The treatment that we have just provided is almost over R100,000, but has been provided free of charge by government. Not because it’s him, but because we do this to everyone.”
IOL Sport