I am saddened by the passing of Chris ‘Rollaway’ Ndlovu. I am proud though to have been associated with him. We will miss him greatly. He was a gentleman and didn’t talk much – he was a quiet man - he had an undeniable gift of leadership.

I wish to express solidarity with his grieving family and the mourning communities at large. It is a painful moment, I know.

As I recall, Chris first joined Kaizer Chiefs in 1975 and left after four seasons.

When his club Pimville United Brothers (PUBS) ran into financial troubles, most of their stars joined Orlando Pirates.

We targeted two of their players, Tokyo Lesolang as well as Ndlovu, who was their main kingpin in the middle and PUBS’ engine. Chris was the anchor between the defence and attack, controlling the ship.

Rollaway, as he was nicknamed, did a tremendous job for us over the years. He was a very dedicated player and I can’t remember him ever missing a training session.

And, although having a quiet personality, Chris was sociable, always interestedin discussing a variety of topics and laughing whole-heartedly at a good joke.But when he spoke, people paid attention, as he always provided valuable insight.

It’s a huge loss that someone like Chris has left us. But it is something we have no control over. The Lord dictates these matters.

Thank you, Chris. Thanks to your family for having afforded us an opportunity to share all these times with you.

As Joshua 1:9 says: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

On behalf of the Kaizer Chiefs Family, I wish to express my deepest heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and friends. May the glory of the Lord give you strength to travel through this valley of darkness.

May Chris rest in peace!  

Chris ‘Rollaway’ Ndlovu passed away on 11 April 2020 at the age of 74. His funeral will be held in Soweto on Friday, 17 April. Because of the Covid-19 restrictions, only family members and a few friends will be allowed to attend.