Steve "Kalamazoo" Mokone's Life Hanging In The Balance

Steve "Kalamazoo" Mokone, who in 1956 made history by becoming the first black South African to play in Europe, is fighting for his life in a US hospital.   The former Coventry City, Barnsley (England), Heracles Almelo (Holland), Olympique Marseille (France) and Torino (Italy) star was until recently very active but following an operation, suddenly fell ill.   "This happened last Friday," a family source told Soccer-Laduma. "When I spoke to him about two weeks ago he was fine. That's when he called to talk about being honoured again in Pretoria and wanted to send us the agenda so the entire family could attend."   Some years back, the ball artist who received the Order of Ikhamanga from President Mbeki, did survive a big operation but at the age of almost 83, and having suffered from poor health in recent times, we might be saying a sad goodbye to yet another legend.   In an email to Soccer-Laduma, he was frank about his situation. "My body has seen a lot of winters and summers, you must agree. I have been very fortunate so far and cannot be selfish and complain," he said.