Passionate author Charley Pietersen says to finish the writing and publishing of the biography of South African football icon Lucas Moripe before his death, is priceless. The Free State-born author has documented the captivating story of the late football great in the namesake biography, Lucas Moripe Masterpieces – South African Legend.
Moripe died on Tuesday, 19 November, at 74 years old. The Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Foundation confirmed he passed after suffering another stoke at a hospital in Pretoria. Moripe’s funeral is being held today – Thursday, 28 November – at the namesake Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.
Petersen, who is among the multitudes in attendance to pay their last respects to Moripe, said he made it his mission to ensure that Moripe’s biography sees the light of day, saying it was fulfilling to even release and present the book while the legend was still alive. This was his sacrifice to honour Moripe, who was nicknamed “Masterpieces” and also “the god of football” by the football fraternity due to his prowess on the field.
“I always wanted to meet him, having heard a lot about this great legend’s immense contribution to raising South Africa’s football profile. It was very important to finish Masterpieces’ biography.
“My mission to write a book was three-fold: Firstly, to preserve Masterpieces’ football legacy; secondly, to ensure the sales proceeds of the biography be his pension while alive; and thirdly, to remind South Africa that he and other legends who are still around are really battling to make ends meet. Our soccer legends who gave so much of themselves are living on state social grants and have no medical care.
“The chief reason for their plight is that there were no big salaries, endorsements, and signing-on fees while they were playing,” said Petersen. He said Moripe’s reaction upon presented with the book was priceless.
“It was a precious moment, with the shedding of tears of joy, laughter, pride, and joy. He slept with a copy of the book under his pillow. This, to me, has been a monumental effort,” said Petersen. “We spent hours together, him telling me about his playing days, with him terrorising opposition defenders and goalkeepers,” said Petersen.
Moripe’s career spanned from 1971 when he played with the Pretoria Callies in the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), later going on to play for the Caroline Hill FC in Hong Kong. On his return, he joined Orlando Pirates in 1981.
A reoccurring injury reportedly forced Moripe to hang up his boots. His football prowess saw him awarded coveted accolades, such as the Player of the Year and Sportsman of the Year awards in 1973.
Moripe’s biography adds to two biographies about football figures Petersen has penned. These are of the late businessman and football administrator Dr Petrus “Whitehead” Molemela, titled I have seen it all, and Bernard Parker’s biography titled From a Shack to Destiny.
