An exhibition of unique sports memorabilia of a “forgotten sports hero” was officially opened in the Duggan-Cronin Gallery in Kimberley last week.
The late Olehile Gabriel “Whynie” Manong (1951-2013) served as a South African Football Association (Safa) representative in the Northern Cape for more than 30 years. He occupied various executive positions and collected a large number of sports mementos, such as badges, flags and personally signed jerseys.
At the opening night of the exhibition on 5 October, a family representative, Bishop Motsamai Manong, said Manong was “a genius, a sweetheart of a brother” who went from player to administrator. He thanked the McGregor Museum for making the exhibition possible, saying “it is about time the history of our own people is preserved”.
It was Sephai Mngqolo, an oral historian at the museum, who approached Angela Lerato Madibane-Manong, wife of the late Manong, during February 2020 to make the collection available for exhibition.
Mngqolo said these were the main tasks of a museum: to collect, preserve and to educate. He was happy to be involved in the realisation of the exhibition.
The MEC of Sport, Arts and Culture, Desiree Fienies, said people like Manong remained energetic despite the condition of the country.
They played a major role in sport liberation, although being denied the opportunity to excel in sport, she said.
Manong was born in White City, Galeshewe. He worked as an interpreter at the Department of Bantu Administration, and later as a sport and cultural officer at the Sol Plaatje Municipality.
Manong played football for the Basotho Tigers and later joined the Panthers Football Club. He became involved in the administration of football at local football associations and later at provincial level. He was elected as Safa’s executive head of delegation for the U23 group.
- The Duggan-Cronin Gallery, with its entrance in Egerton Road, Belgravia, can be visited on weekdays from 09:00 to 16:00. Ring the bell at the gate.
