Players who spend a decade at one club and deliver truckloads of trophies are not a dime a dozen.
Messi, the little Lionel born in Argentina but raised and sharpened at La Massa to become the most dangerous weapon of mass destruction on two feet to spearhead Barcelona to global greatness, is one such player.
He didn't have the wicked wizardry of the Flea who has now moved to that French club owned by an oil-rich country, but Steven Gerrard also belongs to the league of long-serving stalwarts - 17 seasons at Liverpool - whose names became synonymous with the club of the red side of Merseyside.
The technical director of AC Milan, Paolo Maldini, only had eyes for the red and black, a one-club man who stirred the loins of the Rossoneri with lion-hearted displays for a proud 25 years. Similarly Hlompho Kekana shifts the spotlight to the southern tip of Africa to this country we call home.
A grafter, leader, consummate professional and exceptional servant, his exploits for Black Leopards, SuperSport United and Bloemfontein Celtic are well documented. But it is his excellence at Mamelodi Sundowns that has put his name among the stalwarts of soccer.
No skipper in the whole of SA has hoisted as much silverware as Hlompho.
Lucky Lekgwathi came close with his half a dozen during the dizzying days of Orlando Pirates and their back-to-back double trebles during their happy people days.
In a country where some players hog the headlines for their off-the-field, often dishonourable and deplorable acts, rather than doing the magic with the pigskin, Kekana sparkles like a solitary star and a shining example of professionalism personified.
The boy from Zebediela who dared to dream rose from the depressing dusty backwaters of his childhood and became not just a man but a leader of men in Chloorkop. He was the head cornerstone on which Pitso Mosimane built the Chloorkop castle. Kekana's lavishly decorated decade- long service to Sundowns was awash with success - 12 trophies in 10 years (six PSL titles; two Nedbank Cup and Telkom Knockout each; Caf Champions League and Caf Super Cup).
No, Hlompho Kekana is not dead.
This is not an obituary. Rather, it is a salutation of a football figure who did not have the finesse of Messi, had the grit of Gerrard, but most importantly, has the humility most people would do well to emulate.
How wonderful it would have been for his departure from the club to which he gave so selflessly to be handled with more dignity and decorum than it appears to have been. Haphazard at best.
He crafted a classy farewell to all associated with the club for which he scored a glut of goals.
Not just goals but memorable entries into that great book of SA football history that would be read by generations to come. Point correction.
Kekana never scored goals. He unleashed scorchers and thunderbolts from the parking lot. Various venues, not excluding such cathedrals as Orlando in Soweto, Yaounde in Cameroon and Lucas Masterpieces Moripe to mention but three arenas where he served up his sumptuous, powerful strikes.
Were he a weapon, he would have been a rocket launcher. Moreover, they caught the eye of those who compile the short list of goals scored the world over as nominations for the Puskas awards.
Wayne Sandilands, a prayer warrior, fell victim to many a Kekana venomous shot.
His prayers must have not reached the heavens as he never seemed to have a divine intervention. If you are a youngster looking for some sort of inspiration, may Kekana's discipline, dedication and determination be a light that guides you.
l Don't forget to catch the latest episode of SportsLive with BBK podcast where I'm joined by colleague Mahlatse Mphahlele to discuss all things Bafana Bafana as they kick off their 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers as 31 countries seek to join host nation Qatar.
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