From all of us at Orlando Pirates, we wish to express our profound condolences to the Mattera family. We supplicate that God gives you fortitude at this moment of extreme grief and pain.
In dedication of the late great poet, we share a poem he wrote in honour of Orlando Pirates when the Club was celebrating its 65th Anniversary in 2002.
LISTEN…
AND LISTEN DEEP AND WELL
SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF OUR BELOVED COUNTRY,
YOU, THE LOVERS, ADMIRERS AND FANS OF THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL GAME:
LISTEN, AND YOU WILL HEAR A NAME
IN THE WIND, ECHOING ACROSS THE TOWNSHIPS,
ACROSS THE COLD CONCRETE CITIES
WITH THEIR STARK, STARING CONCRETE EYES.
YES, THE VOICE OF THE ANCIENTS, UNTAMED,
CALLING OUT THE ONLY NAME
AMONG ALL THE NAMES:
BEHOLD, ORLANDO PIRATES
THE ALMIGHTY BUCCANEERS;
THE VERY EPITOME AND THE ESSENCE OF THE RESILIENCE OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT,
UNDAUNTED
UNCONQUERABLE
UNAFRAID.
REPLENISHING.
REBUILDING.