I have learnt with deep sadness of the passing on of one of the shining sons of our nation, Rashid Khan. The history of South African soccer would be incomplete and could indeed not make sense without the contribution of people such as Rashid.

In a way Rashid’s life is also synonymous with our nation’s history. Rashid emerged at the height of oppressive political conditions to put his stamp on the history of our football through his incredible footballing prowess. Even though the political overlords through racist laws managed to force him out of the non-racial Orlando, along with Bernard Hartze, Hans Moses and Ralph Hendricks, he persisted to make a contribution to the development of football in our nation.

Today, as we enjoy football in a free and democratic country where players are well-paid and infrastructure is taken for granted, it is all too easy to forget where our football comes from.

It is equally easy to forget that without the impact of South Africans such as Rashid at a time when playing football was part athletics and part sacrifice, our football could have turned out worse. Instead his generation made the masses of poor soccer lovers happy.

Football has been one of the uniting social forces in our history. We thank Rashid and his generation for giving us the delights on football as well as non-racial sport. One hopes that when the history of sport in our country is written, Rashid Khan’s name will assume the pride of place it so wonderfully deserves!

His legacy will continue to inspire the soccer world across the length and breadth of our country.

May his soul rest in peace!