FORMER Orlando Pirates player Phil Setshedi was laid to rest on Friday, 27 October at the Waterfall Cemetery in Midrand, Gauteng.
The funeral service of the late legend was held at Bryanston Methodist Church.
Family and friends gathered at the church to pay their last respects to the fallen legend, who died three days after he underwent surgery following a short illness.
The 67-year-old legend, who was affectionately known as "Mr Clean”, died on Thursday, 19 October.
In a note penned by Phil’s widow, Patricia Setshedi, she said: “Today I'm standing before you to remember my dearest husband Philip, a loving man who has been taken from us too soon. He was my best friend, my soulmate. I'm devastated that he is no longer with us. I will forever cherish the day he fell deeply in love with me, on the 28th of February 1982.”
Patricia said that she'll forever be grateful for how much joy and love Phil brought to her life and that no one will ever replace him.
His two sons, Tim and Theo, said they appreciated the fact that Phil was their father.
His daughter Malodi said: "I can't believe that you are no more. My heart is torn into pieces. I don’t know if I'll ever recover from this anytime soon. You have shaped the queen that I am today. You taught me to stand my ground and made sure that I take care of those close to my heart."
Family and friends have gathered at the Bryanston Methodist Church to bid their farewell to the fallen Orlando Pirates legend Phil Setshedi.
— nhlanhla (@KhomolaNhlanhla) October 27, 2023
?@dailysunsa? #OrlandoPirates #PhilSetshedi #MrClean pic.twitter.com/H2G7V5VFqE
Phil's grandson, Ofentse, said that he will miss his mkhulu for the caring heart he had.
His obituary read that he started playing soccer at the tender age of 10 at Moroka Swallows Babes and was later recruited by a scout to join Orlando Pirates FC. This is where he became a shining star.
In 1978, he was chosen to go to the United States of America to play in the North American Soccer League in Denver Colorado. On his return home, he rejoined Pirates as player/coach, and it was during this stint in 1980 that he broke the record of one of his most talked about achievements with the team, playing 17 games in succession without loss and Pirates won the prestigious 1980 Mainstay Cup. This was no mean feat for a young male.
“In 1981/82, he went to Austria to play for Vienne Schimmering FC. In 1983/81, he was appointed to oversee soccer development by the minister of sport in the then-homeland of Bophuthatswana. In 1985, he rejoined Orlando Pirates as a coach," the obituary read.
In 1993, he was appointed Bafana Bafana assistant coach, working alongside then head coach Clive Barker. Phil was also part of the Bafana team that made history after winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996.
