The well-known soccer guru and former principal of Muungadi Primary School, Mr Gilbert Ramovha (72), passed away on Monday in the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital after a long illness.

The news of his death has sent shockwaves through the community he served throughout his life. According to several observers, Ramovha has left a void in the soccer fraternity. During his life, he served as secretary of the Kutama Football Association, the Zoutpansberg Football Association and was also founder of  Zamenkomste Happy Boys. He produced players such as Prince Madima and Nthangeni Muligwa.

A representative of the family, Ms Suzan Ramovha, said the family was proud to have produced "one of the most valuable members of the community". She said they acknowledged the role that Ramovha had played in uplifting the standard of soccer and education in the local community. “We are sad to lose someone like him, but we know that God has taken him from us for a reason. It is painful to lose someone like him, but we have accepted what happened because it can never be changed.”

The secretary of Zamenkomste United Brothers, Mr Itani Mamafha, described Ramovha as a community builder and educator "who was larger than life. He was always there when we needed him. Now that he is gone, we are afraid that no one will ever fill his shoes because he is irreplaceable."

The president of Makhado LFA, Mr Joseph Maphaha, said the football family had lost one of its pillars who had always worked hard towards the development of soccer. "The whole area was shocked when we heard of his untimely death," he added. Maphaha described Ramovha as a brave leader who was helping young ones and who was loyal to the community and team and to his soccer family.

He is survived by his five children. He will be buried in the Zamenkomste cemetery tomorrow (Saturday), and the service will start at 06:00.