Gwala, Mabhida and Mokaba: Who Were the Men Behind the Names of South Africa’s Football Stadiums?

• Harry Gwala, Moses Mabhida and Peter Mokaba are more than names associated with infrastructure
• As with towns and street names, several stadiums were renamed after prominent political leaders
• The names given to stadiums have strong links to the people and history of the relevant areas

Sporting cathedrals bring endless hope and joy to weekend worshippers.

As a tribute to the contributions toward progress and greater aspirations, the memories of a select few serve as enduring reminders.

South Africa's football stadiums take on a life of their own on game day, but the freedom of the grandstands was cultivated by the names on the facade.

Here are five men whose names sit atop the terraces of South African football:

1. Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane

The old and new Peter Mokaba Stadiums are situated a few hundred meters from each other. Plans were to redevelop the old ground for the 2010 FIFA World Cup but a new stadium was the final result.

Heavyweight broadcaster Robert Marawa, the voice of sports media in South Africa, celebrates 49th birthday

Boxing

Mokaba was born in 1959 in what was then called Pietersburg. While still in school, he led protest action and was arrested in 1977 and again in 1982 for his actions as an Umkhonto we Sizwe member.

Mokaba was an active member of South Africa's post-1994 parliament until his death in 2002 due to complications with pneumonia.

2. Harry Gwala Stadium, Pietermaritzburg

Harry Gwala was a teacher, trade unionist and South African Communist Party leader. He was arrested in 1964 for sabotage and for recruiting members for Umkontho We Sizwe.

He spent the next eight years on Robben Island before being released but restricted to Pietermaritzburg. 'The Lion of the Midlands' was sent back to Robben Island in 1977 but was released in 1988 for medical reasons.

After April 1994, Gwala held several positions in the ANC before his death in 1995. Harry Gwala Stadium is located in Pietermaritzburg and is the home ground of Royal AM.

Maradona to Mertens: List of top 10 Napoli legends of all time ranked

Football

3. Lucas Moripe Stadium, Tshwane

One of the few players to have a stadium named after him, Lucas 'Masterpieces' Moripe spent the best days of his career at Pretoria Callies but did have later stints with Orlando Pirates and a club in Hong Kong.

Moripe was the 1973 National Professional Soccer League Player of the Year but his career was plagued by a knee injury. Moripe suffered a mild stroke that left him confined to a wheelchair.

The Lucas Moripe Stadium, formerly called Atteridgeville Super Stadium, has been the home of SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns and is scheduled to host the Tshwane derby on November 28.

4. Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban

A protege of Harry Gwala, Moses Mabhida was attracted to trade unionism and joined the Communist Party in 1942. He was on the ANC's National Executive Committee in the fifties and later served as the commander of Umkontho We Sizwe.

Ranking the 10 best attacking trios in football history

Football

Mabhida spent most of the seventies and eighties abroad and suffered a stroke in Cuba in 1985. He survived but remained ill, passing away a year later in Mozambique.

The stadium named after him is one of the iconic structures of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted four years after Mabhida's body was exhumed and repatriated to South Africa.

5. Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch

The Winelands have always had a closer association with rugby than it has had with football. Stellenbosch FC's home ground is the University of Stellenbosch's rugby venue, named after a man who dedicated his life to rugby.

Danie Craven was born in 1910, played and coached the Springboks and established a rugby dynasty in the quiet university town, where he would pass on at the age of 82.

'Doc' Craven would also become known as 'Mr Rugby' and his commitment to rugby development in South Africa is acknowledged in the naming of the prestigious annual U/19 rugby competition, the Craven Week.

A detailed list of footballers who have converted to Islam

Football

Exciting news! We have a WhatsApp channel 🤩

➡️ Click to join our channel for all your favourite sports news.

Elite stadium capacities

Sports Brief previously reported on the stadium capacities of the English Premier League.

The average Premier League stadium capacity is 37,000 with the largest able to carry over 70,000.

Manchester United's 'Theatre of Dreams' is one of the largest and most recognizable grounds in the world.