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Soweto giants pay tribute to Batchelor

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Marc Batchelor
  • Post published:July 16, 2019

Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and a host of South African football clubs have paid tribute to former striker Marc Batchelor after his death.

Batchelor was gunned down in Johannesburg on Monday evening in what police say looks like a ‘professional hit’.

The former striker was one of a select few players to have played for all of the three prominent Soweto sides in Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows, while he also turned out for Tshwane giants Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United.

Pirates reacted to the tragic news with a statement which read: ‘Orlando Pirates Football Club is saddened by the news of the passing of former striker Marc Batchelor, who was shot in Johannesburg last night.

‘From all of us at Orlando Pirates Football Club, we convey our heartfelt and deepest sympathy to the Batchelor family and pledge our profound moral support.

‘Not many players have the unique privilege of having played for all the top clubs in South Africa like Marc Batchelor did. Not only did the burly striker play for the Mighty Buccaneers but he also donned the colours of Wits University, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns as well as Moroka Swallows in a career that spanned over a decade.

‘Batch was part of the Pirates team that conquered the continent in 1995 where he featured in the first leg of the final against Asec Mimosas as a starter before being replaced by Bruce Ramokadi in the second leg, where he came off the bench in Pirates’ famous victory over the Ivorian giants,’ concluded the tribute.

Chiefs also paid tribute with a statement from Kaizer Motaung via the club’s Twitter page: ‘I am shocked to learn about the passing of former Kaizer Chiefs player Marc Batchelor. On behalf of Kaizer Chiefs I wish to express my deepest heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends and the football fraternity. May his soul rest in eternal peace.’

A host of other clubs also took to Twitter to honour the life of the former footballer.