Cecil Lolo

Cecil Sonwabile Lolo (11 March 1988 – 25 October 2015) was a South African professional footballer, who played as a defender and midfielder for Ajax Cape Town.[1][2]

Cecil Lolo
Personal information
Full name Cecil Sonwabile Lolo
Date of birth (1988-03-11)11 March 1988
Place of birth Khayelitsha, South Africa
Date of death 25 October 2015(2015-10-25) (aged 27)
Place of death Cape Town, South Africa
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Defender
Midfielder
Youth career
African Tribes
2001–2009 Ajax Cape Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 → iKapa Sporting (loan)
2009–2015 Ajax Cape Town 97 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 February 2011
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22 February 2011

Career

Club career

Lolo made his professional debut for Ajax Cape Town as a substitute under Dutch coach Foppe de Haan on 20 August 2010 in the MTN 8 quarter-finals against Mamelodi Sundowns. Lolo took one of the penalties as the Urban Warriors won the match 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out, after the sides were tied at 1-1 after extra-time.[3]

He made his official league debut on 17 September 2010 in a 2–0 win over Platinum Stars.[4] He was promoted from the club's youth academy ranks after years of good showing for the club youth team, subsequent to a loan spell in the National First Division at iKapa Sporting.[5] He scored his first goal on 15 February 2012 in a late comeback over Platinum Stars at the Cape Town Stadium. Lolo scored the winner in the 95th minute after Matthew Booth and Lebogang Manyama scored in the 88th and 92nd minute to win 3–2. Lolo played an instrumental role in Ajax's MTN 8 triumph on 19 September 2015 having a man of the match performance in the final against Kaizer Chiefs winning 1–0.[6] He played what would be his last ever match in a 1–1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs on 26 September 2015. Lolo had made 114 appearances in total scoring two goals and receiving 12 yellow cards and never received a red card.[4] Cecil Lolo was adored by fans, with a variety of popular songs adapted in his praise. One of them being rap hit CoCo (O.T. Genasis song) lyrics adapted from "I'm in love with the CoCo" to "I'm in love with the Lolo".

Personal life

Lolo's family originates from Centane near Butterworth in Eastern Cape. He had three children from two different mothers.[7]

Death

Lolo died in a car accident on 25 October 2015 in Khayelitsha. He was buried in Chebe, Kentani in the Eastern Cape on 7 November 2015.[7]

Legacy

His jersey number 21 has been officially retired by Ajax Cape Town, the club's CEO made the announcement during his tribute speech at the player's memorial services on Friday, 30 October 2015.[8]

References
  1. "Cecil Lolo". IMScoutting. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  2. "Cecil Lolo". ABSA Premiership. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  3. "Ajax squeeze into last four in MTN8". www.supersport.com.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 October 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Cecil Lolo". Football365.co.za. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  6. "REPORT: Ajax Cape Town's Cecil Lolo tragically passes away - News - Kick Off". kickoff.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  7. http://www.kickoff.com/mobile/news/60366/roger-de-sa-defends-ajax-cape-town-over-cecil-lolo-funeral%5B%5D
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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