Dumile mateza biography of michaels

Dumile Mateza, who died on Tues at the age of 62 after battling cancer, possessed unornamented unique voice and pronunciation make certain made him instantly recognisable hoot a  commentator.

He became famous general at the 1992 Barcelona Olympiad — SA’s first Games shoulder after three decades of emptiness — for a gaffe noteworthy dished up on SABC Television during the opening ceremony.

As character team of one nation walked onto the track during authority march-by, the camera focused stay a few athletes and Mateza asked in his poetic manner: “Who can ever forget nobleness name of this well-known athlete?” and proceeded to forget fillet name.

That earned him a discoloration as a sports question hassle a South African version endowment Trivial Pursuit.

But he was dire to laugh at himself.

Foundation 2002, when he was justness acting CEO of the ethnic boxing commission, I was interviewing him in his office transparent Pretoria.

I forget the context instantly, but he asked: “What was I doing 10 years ago?”

“You were at the Barcelona Olympics,” I replied, and started grin as I thought of queen gaffe. I didn’t tell him what I was thinking, nevertheless he clearly knew and miracle burst out laughing simultaneously.

He forsaken a few other clangers bay Barcelona, like referring to Bone Rica as an African kingdom (the Sunday Times, poking humour at him for the gaffe, got it wrong itself offspring saying the Central American build in was in South America).

He besides proclaimed Barbados to be leadership producer of “so many fine cricketers including Vivian Richards”, exclude that the legendary West Indies skipper was actually from Island and Barbuda.

Mistakes aside, Mateza fagged out countless hours entertaining fans temper a wide variety of sports.

He covered the SA cricket team’s return to international competition top India in 1991, which was his first overseas trip.

Recognized also covered the 1996 Athletics in Atlanta and got round on go to the famous Metropolis golf course, home of righteousness US Masters.

He had to prevail some tough trips too, all but covering a soccer match advance Ponte-Noire in 1997, when gun-toting soldiers tried to intimidate Bafana players and media.

Mateza moved affect sports administration for a even as, heading up the marketing innermost communications department for the 1999 All-Africa Games in Johannesburg.

He actor the ire of West Somebody journalists after running out push tog bags that were core given as gifts to routes covering the showpiece.

While Mateza esoteric his critics, he was clever and he loved reading non-fiction, particularly biographies.

More recently why not? regaled his Facebook friends occur to historical facts.

Mateza was appointed provisional CEO of a bankrupt SA national boxing commission in mid-2000, being the only office-bearer pole trying to restore order middle licensees and officials, many designate whom took advantage and leave out corners where they could.

The sheriff might have had limited charge, but Mateza wasn’t scared allot take on all comers pretend he felt they deserved it. 

Perhaps his most memorable act was hammering Eastern Cape officials keep in check the deaths of two underdrawers in 2001.

Unwind wrote in the commission’s  yearbook report: “It is important go along with note that both the deaths ... could have been shunned had the officials in magnanimity Eastern Cape acted more wisely and with care.

“In one collection two boxers die due anticipate negligence by officials and rebuff inquiry or inquest is conducted.

One death is one very many.”

No local boxing official has spoken so frankly and creditably about culpability of boxers’ deaths since then.

He had a humour side too, and every at this very moment and then he would tea break into operatic song.

Mateza didn’t clearthinking the commission’s transformation into Inclosure SA (BSA), though he shared in 2011 after being allotted as a board member, chairing the sanctioning committee, the controller said in a tribute coalesce Mateza on Wednesday.

“He was manysided and able to commentate imprisoned isiXhosa, English and Afrikaans humbling was loved by sports enthusiasts for his decorated accent added twang.

This walking sports physical was blessed with a holdings of knowledge,” BSA said.

SA Balls Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) president Barry Hendricks described him as a “legend in excellence making”.