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Cape Town – Bafana Bafana legend Marks Maponyane remembers former team-mate Phil 'Chippa' Masinga following his untimely passing.
READ: The day 'Chippa' Masinga scored a 9 minute hat-trick
“I knew him as a youngster that had a lot of energy and ambitions. We would sit together and talk about scoring goals because we happened to be (live) in the same area,” said Maponyane in an interview with SABC.
“A lot of South African's will always remember Phil for just his week-in and week-out commitment on the field for [Jomo] Cosmos.”
On Sunday, the former Jomo Cosmos and Mamelodi Sundowns star died of cancer.
The 49-year-old had an illustrious career that saw him represent South Africa on the global stage.
ALSO READ: 'Phil Masinga inspired me the most' - Radebe
After making his mark on home soil, Masinga went on to sign for Leeds United before going on to play in Switzerland, Italy and Abu Dhabi.
Maponyane recalls when Masinga ended Kaizer Chiefs chances of claiming the league in the 1992/93 season by ensuring the title is won by Sundowns.
“He was one of the (most) fierce strikers and I can recall when Kaizer Chiefs was about to win the league, and I am sure people will remember, when the Sundowns team was sitting on the Cosmos bench waiting in case Kaizer Chiefs loses and we (Chiefs) lost by that solitary goal of Phil Masinga and that is how Sundowns celebrated,” Maponyane said.
“At home he has really dazzled a few opponents and the fans will remember him for that.”
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Maponyane added: “Fortunately, I knew him as a person. When we were not talking football and just hanging around at my place, just playing table tennis, we’ll be talking about a lot of things, talking about life and he was just one of those down to earth people.”
