LOUISE MOKONE

E-mail: kalamokone2@aol.com
Tel: +1 (703) 823-2299
@KalaMokone

___________________________________________________
PRESS STATEMENT
March 20, 2015
Announcing the Passing of Steve "Kalamazoo" Mokone, 1932 to 2015
Fairfax, Virginia - We are deeply
saddened to announce the passing away
of Steve 'Kalamazoo' Mokone. "He died
peacefully at 22h15 on Thursday March
19th in a Washington DC area hospital in
the United States of America (USA),"
said his wife Louise Mokone.
A native of South Africa, Steve
'Kalamazoo' Mokone's was born in 1932
in Doornfontein; his soccer career began
at the youthful age of 16. He became the
first black professional soccer player in
Britain (and later Holland), when he
signed up for the English club Coventry City in 1955. He also played for teams in France, Italy,
and by 1959 he was elected Europe's best soccer player.
After football, he moved to the United States in 1964 where he continued his studies earning a
Doctorate in Psychology and International Politics. Mokone has been a recipient of many awards
and honors including the distinguished Order of Ikhamanga in Gold from South Africa's then
President Thabo Mbeki in 2003. In addition, he was inducted into the Dutch Football Hall of
Fame in 2010, South African Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, has a street and a stadium named after
him in Holland, and was the subject of a movie about his life, De Zwarte Meteoor (The Black
Meteor) which was released in 2000.
Mokone will be dearly missed, he leaves behind his wife of nearly thirty (30) years, children,
grandchildren and many relatives and friends in the USA, South Africa, and Holland.
Robala ka kgotso Mokone! (Rest in Peace, Mokone!).
At this stage there are no details regarding final arrangements for memorial services as the
family is still being informed; further information will be provided in the very near future.