Wednesday, 2 December 2015
The African Recorder: Special Feature: TAG TEAM Marketing
The African Recorder: Special Feature: TAG TEAM Marketing: TAG TEAM Marketing is a Black-owned and operated marketing company that specializes in marketing the products and services of Bl...
The African Recorder: Welcome to the largest marketplace for Black selle...
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Tuesday, 1 December 2015
Patrice Motsepe, The African Visionary
NEWS
Patrice Motsepe, The People’s Icon Who Loves Soccer
By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa
Patrice Motsepe is a mining magnate who owns Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club, which is one of the biggest teams in South Africa.
Since the inception of the PSL in 1996, Sundowns have won the league title a record six times.
Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club has its roots in Marabastad, a cosmopolitan area in the north-western part of the Tshwane CBD.
Marabastad was a culturally diverse area until the Group Areas Act was enacted and its residents were forced to relocate to Atteridgeville, Eersterus and Laudium. Sundowns Football Club was formed in the early 1960s by a group of youngsters who called Marabastad their home. Among them were Frank “ABC” Motsepe, Roy Fischer, Ingle Singh and Bernard Hartze.
In the late 1990s the Motsepes established The Motsepe Foundation to undertake and oversee their various philanthropic initiatives.
One of these initiatives is the South African Football Association (SAFA) Second Division, currently known as ABC Motsepe League for sponsorship reasons. This was founded in 1998 as the current Second Division and the overall third tier of South African football (soccer). The competition is regulated by SAFA, and until 2012 had been sponsored by mobile telecommunications company Vodacom.
Currently the Motsepe League features 144 teams in total, divided into 9 divisions, borderly decided by the 9 geo-political provinces of South Africa: Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West.
This means, that each Provincial division contains 16 teams as standard. The winner of each Provincial division qualifies for the annual Promotional Play-offs, where the winners of two streams, will get promoted to the National First Division. In each Province, the two lowest ranked teams by the end of the season, will be relegated to U21 SAB Regional League, which in return will promote two play-off winners from the Regional Championships.
An important rule to note, is that all clubs in South Africa also are allowed to compete with youth teams (U19/U21) and/or a Reserve team in a lower SAFA league. If a club opt to field such teams, the U19 teams will start out at the fifth level in the U19 National League, while U21 teams or Reserve teams will start out at the fourth level in the U21 SAB Regional League.
If any U19 team win promotion for U21 SAB Regional League or SAFA Second Division, this promotion is fully accepted. No clubs are however entitled to field two teams at the same level, and rule 4.6.4 of the SAFA regulations states, that if the mother club play in the National First Division or Premier Soccer League, then the highest level these additional Youth/Reserve teams are allowed to compete, will be the SAFA Second Division. In such cases, where a non-promotable team manage to win their regional division, the ticket for the promotional playoffs will instead be handed over to the second best team in the division.
Born Patrice Thlopane Motsepe on January 28, 1962, to Augustine Motsepe, a schoolteacher turned small businessman, who owned a Spaza shop (mini-supperette), popular with black mine workers, it was from there that Motsepe learnt basic business principles from his father as well as first hand exposure to mining.
Motsepe’s parents were hard working; he was brought into a family where his mother, who was originally a schoolteacher, had started her own Spaza shop (small supermarket), becoming a mainstay for the local Black mine workers. This entrepreneurship taught Mr Motsepe the principles of business ownership. His father, a hardworking miner, instilled the ideals of hard work.
Mr. Motsepe began his business career as a child when he would wake early to help his entrepreneurial father by selling products to mine workers at his father’s shop.
“I must have been about eight when my dad said one day, We make so much money when you’re behind the counter you should take over the business when you grow up. But it was hard work, from 6am to 8pm. I soon realised I needed to choose a career that would keep me away from that shop! That’s how I came to decide when was only eight that I’d become a lawyer.”He went on to earn a BA from Swaziland University and a LLB from Wits University.
The greatman also went on to form Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), the first non-racial, united and recognized business organization in South Africa and serves as its President. He was a Partner of Bowman Gilfillan Inc., a leading South African law firm, specializing in mining and business law. He was employed for approximately 4 years by McGuire Woods LLP, a law firm in Richmond, Virginia, USA.
In 1994 Motsepe became the first black lawyer to be made a partner at the law firm Bowman Gilfillan, where he specialized in mining and business law before becoming restless. He then shifted to the mining industry. He Started a contract mining operation called Future Mining which provided various services to Vaal Reefs gold mine, now part of AngloGold. Unable to secure a loan, he ran his business from a briefcase for the first eight months.
Mr.Motsepe formed African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) in 1997 and acquired a number of marginal shafts at Vaal Reefs in January 1998 on favorable financial terms, followed by the purchase of other marginal shafts owned by AngloGold in the Free State.
Today he’s the biggest single shareholder of the world’s fifth-largest gold mining company. His firm, African Rainbow Minerals, controls 19.8 per cent of Harmony. His family trust owns 43.1 per cent of ARM.
Forbes magazine racks him as 642nd richest person in the world and South Africa’s first black billionaire with an estimated net worth of $2.7 billion dollars as of March 2014.
Harmony Gold Mining Company specializes in turning old digs into new digs. Harmony is South Africa’s largest gold miner, after acquiring ARMgold in 2003, and the sixth largest in the world. The company buys mature gold mines with lagging production and turns them into low-cost, high-productivity mines. It had 2003 revenues of $1.2 billion and has 50,718 employees.
“I was exposed to the spirit of Ubuntu/Botho at a very young age. I remember as a seven year-old working in my father’s grocery store, seeing poor members of our community receiving free groceries from my mother. My parents also regularly paid for the school and university fees of less fortunate children from our communities.”
Earlier in 2013, Motsepe announced that the Motsepe Family “will contribute at least half of the funds generated by our family assets to the Motsepe Foundation” to be used to improve the lifestyles and living conditions of poor, disabled, unemployed, women, youth, workers and marginalized South Africans.
Motsepe had earlier commented, “I decided quite some time ago to give at least half of the funds generated by our family assets to uplift poor and other disadvantaged and marginalised South Africans but was also duty-bound and committed to ensuring that it would be done in a way that protects the interests and retains the confidence of our shareholders and investors”.
The Motsepe family has been inspired by the Giving Pledge that was initiated by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates to encourage wealthy families worldwide to give at least half of their wealth to charity.
He further remarked, “South Africans are caring, compassionate and loving people. It has always been part of our culture and tradition to assist and care for less fortunate and marginalised members of our communities. This culture is also embodied in the spirit and tradition of Ubuntu/Botho. I was also a beneficiary of various people, Black and White, in South Africa and in the US, who educated, trained, mentored and inspired me and whose faith and belief in me contributed to my success in my profession, business and elsewhere. The same can be said about my wife, Precious, and we are deeply indebted to them and many more. My parents taught me about business and entrepreneurship and also about the duty of giving and caring for the poor and marginalised.”
He and Precious recognize the huge responsibility and duty that the Motsepe family has to poor, unemployed, disabled, women, youth, workers and marginalised South Africans.
They also have an ongoing obligation of nation building, uniting Black and White South Africans and contributing towards making South Africa, Africa and the World a better place.
“We have contributed over many years to education and health; the development and upliftment of women, youth, workers and the disabled; churches; the development of entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs; rural and urban upliftment; soccer including youth soccer development; music and to other charities and foundations.”
Another person Motsepe has expressed his deep gratitude to, is Warren Buffett, for the advice and wisdom he shared with him in Omaha during August 2012 and for inspiring thousands of people worldwide to give and care for the less fortunate.
Motsepe and his wife are appreciate Bill and Melinda Gates for their encouragement and for providing them with additional informationon the Giving Pledge at their meeting in Cape Town during December 2012. Their work in Africa and other continents and their commitment to humanity continues to inspire the Motsepe’s and many people throughout the world.
“Our culture, religious upbringing and values guided and influenced us in making this commitment and we are proud that our children support our pledge.
Motsepe added, “Their future and the future of all South Africans requires us to give hope and build a better and brighter future for all our people.”
Copyright 2015 African Journalist
By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa
Patrice Motsepe is a mining magnate who owns Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club, which is one of the biggest teams in South Africa.
Since the inception of the PSL in 1996, Sundowns have won the league title a record six times.
Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club has its roots in Marabastad, a cosmopolitan area in the north-western part of the Tshwane CBD.
Marabastad was a culturally diverse area until the Group Areas Act was enacted and its residents were forced to relocate to Atteridgeville, Eersterus and Laudium. Sundowns Football Club was formed in the early 1960s by a group of youngsters who called Marabastad their home. Among them were Frank “ABC” Motsepe, Roy Fischer, Ingle Singh and Bernard Hartze.
In the late 1990s the Motsepes established The Motsepe Foundation to undertake and oversee their various philanthropic initiatives.
One of these initiatives is the South African Football Association (SAFA) Second Division, currently known as ABC Motsepe League for sponsorship reasons. This was founded in 1998 as the current Second Division and the overall third tier of South African football (soccer). The competition is regulated by SAFA, and until 2012 had been sponsored by mobile telecommunications company Vodacom.
Currently the Motsepe League features 144 teams in total, divided into 9 divisions, borderly decided by the 9 geo-political provinces of South Africa: Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West.
This means, that each Provincial division contains 16 teams as standard. The winner of each Provincial division qualifies for the annual Promotional Play-offs, where the winners of two streams, will get promoted to the National First Division. In each Province, the two lowest ranked teams by the end of the season, will be relegated to U21 SAB Regional League, which in return will promote two play-off winners from the Regional Championships.
An important rule to note, is that all clubs in South Africa also are allowed to compete with youth teams (U19/U21) and/or a Reserve team in a lower SAFA league. If a club opt to field such teams, the U19 teams will start out at the fifth level in the U19 National League, while U21 teams or Reserve teams will start out at the fourth level in the U21 SAB Regional League.
If any U19 team win promotion for U21 SAB Regional League or SAFA Second Division, this promotion is fully accepted. No clubs are however entitled to field two teams at the same level, and rule 4.6.4 of the SAFA regulations states, that if the mother club play in the National First Division or Premier Soccer League, then the highest level these additional Youth/Reserve teams are allowed to compete, will be the SAFA Second Division. In such cases, where a non-promotable team manage to win their regional division, the ticket for the promotional playoffs will instead be handed over to the second best team in the division.
Born Patrice Thlopane Motsepe on January 28, 1962, to Augustine Motsepe, a schoolteacher turned small businessman, who owned a Spaza shop (mini-supperette), popular with black mine workers, it was from there that Motsepe learnt basic business principles from his father as well as first hand exposure to mining.
Motsepe’s parents were hard working; he was brought into a family where his mother, who was originally a schoolteacher, had started her own Spaza shop (small supermarket), becoming a mainstay for the local Black mine workers. This entrepreneurship taught Mr Motsepe the principles of business ownership. His father, a hardworking miner, instilled the ideals of hard work.
Mr. Motsepe began his business career as a child when he would wake early to help his entrepreneurial father by selling products to mine workers at his father’s shop.
“I must have been about eight when my dad said one day, We make so much money when you’re behind the counter you should take over the business when you grow up. But it was hard work, from 6am to 8pm. I soon realised I needed to choose a career that would keep me away from that shop! That’s how I came to decide when was only eight that I’d become a lawyer.”He went on to earn a BA from Swaziland University and a LLB from Wits University.
The greatman also went on to form Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), the first non-racial, united and recognized business organization in South Africa and serves as its President. He was a Partner of Bowman Gilfillan Inc., a leading South African law firm, specializing in mining and business law. He was employed for approximately 4 years by McGuire Woods LLP, a law firm in Richmond, Virginia, USA.
In 1994 Motsepe became the first black lawyer to be made a partner at the law firm Bowman Gilfillan, where he specialized in mining and business law before becoming restless. He then shifted to the mining industry. He Started a contract mining operation called Future Mining which provided various services to Vaal Reefs gold mine, now part of AngloGold. Unable to secure a loan, he ran his business from a briefcase for the first eight months.
Mr.Motsepe formed African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) in 1997 and acquired a number of marginal shafts at Vaal Reefs in January 1998 on favorable financial terms, followed by the purchase of other marginal shafts owned by AngloGold in the Free State.
Today he’s the biggest single shareholder of the world’s fifth-largest gold mining company. His firm, African Rainbow Minerals, controls 19.8 per cent of Harmony. His family trust owns 43.1 per cent of ARM.
Forbes magazine racks him as 642nd richest person in the world and South Africa’s first black billionaire with an estimated net worth of $2.7 billion dollars as of March 2014.
Harmony Gold Mining Company specializes in turning old digs into new digs. Harmony is South Africa’s largest gold miner, after acquiring ARMgold in 2003, and the sixth largest in the world. The company buys mature gold mines with lagging production and turns them into low-cost, high-productivity mines. It had 2003 revenues of $1.2 billion and has 50,718 employees.
“I was exposed to the spirit of Ubuntu/Botho at a very young age. I remember as a seven year-old working in my father’s grocery store, seeing poor members of our community receiving free groceries from my mother. My parents also regularly paid for the school and university fees of less fortunate children from our communities.”
Earlier in 2013, Motsepe announced that the Motsepe Family “will contribute at least half of the funds generated by our family assets to the Motsepe Foundation” to be used to improve the lifestyles and living conditions of poor, disabled, unemployed, women, youth, workers and marginalized South Africans.
Motsepe had earlier commented, “I decided quite some time ago to give at least half of the funds generated by our family assets to uplift poor and other disadvantaged and marginalised South Africans but was also duty-bound and committed to ensuring that it would be done in a way that protects the interests and retains the confidence of our shareholders and investors”.
The Motsepe family has been inspired by the Giving Pledge that was initiated by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates to encourage wealthy families worldwide to give at least half of their wealth to charity.
He further remarked, “South Africans are caring, compassionate and loving people. It has always been part of our culture and tradition to assist and care for less fortunate and marginalised members of our communities. This culture is also embodied in the spirit and tradition of Ubuntu/Botho. I was also a beneficiary of various people, Black and White, in South Africa and in the US, who educated, trained, mentored and inspired me and whose faith and belief in me contributed to my success in my profession, business and elsewhere. The same can be said about my wife, Precious, and we are deeply indebted to them and many more. My parents taught me about business and entrepreneurship and also about the duty of giving and caring for the poor and marginalised.”
He and Precious recognize the huge responsibility and duty that the Motsepe family has to poor, unemployed, disabled, women, youth, workers and marginalised South Africans.
They also have an ongoing obligation of nation building, uniting Black and White South Africans and contributing towards making South Africa, Africa and the World a better place.
“We have contributed over many years to education and health; the development and upliftment of women, youth, workers and the disabled; churches; the development of entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs; rural and urban upliftment; soccer including youth soccer development; music and to other charities and foundations.”
Another person Motsepe has expressed his deep gratitude to, is Warren Buffett, for the advice and wisdom he shared with him in Omaha during August 2012 and for inspiring thousands of people worldwide to give and care for the less fortunate.
Motsepe and his wife are appreciate Bill and Melinda Gates for their encouragement and for providing them with additional informationon the Giving Pledge at their meeting in Cape Town during December 2012. Their work in Africa and other continents and their commitment to humanity continues to inspire the Motsepe’s and many people throughout the world.
“Our culture, religious upbringing and values guided and influenced us in making this commitment and we are proud that our children support our pledge.
Motsepe added, “Their future and the future of all South Africans requires us to give hope and build a better and brighter future for all our people.”
Copyright 2015 African Journalist
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Thursday, 26 November 2015
The African Recorder: OJ SIMPSON, An American Story Yet To Be Properly T...
The African Recorder: OJ SIMPSON, An American Story Yet To Be Properly T...: O.J. Simpson Biography Showing all 64 items Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (2) | Trivia (35)...
Monday, 23 November 2015
Muhammad Ali: The Greatest of All Time
Muhammad Ali
Boxer, Philanthropist (1942–)
Arguably boxing's most celebrated athlete, Muhammad Ali is also known for his public stance against the Vietnam War and his longtime battle with Parkinson's disease.
Synopsis
Born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1942, Muhammad Ali became an Olympic gold medalist in 1960 and the world heavyweight boxing champion in 1964. Following his suspension for refusing military service, Ali reclaimed the heavyweight title two more times during the 1970s, winning famed bouts against Joe Frazier and George Foreman along the way. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984, Ali has devoted much of his time to philanthropy, earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.
25 Images
Early Life
Boxer, philanthropist and social activist Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. Ali showed at an early age that he wasn't afraid of any bout—inside or outside of the ring. Growing up in the segregated South, he experienced racial prejudice and discrimination firsthand, which likely contributed to his early passion for boxing.
At the age of 12, Ali discovered his talent for boxing through an odd twist of fate. His bike was stolen, and Ali told a police officer, Joe Martin, that he wanted to beat up the thief. "Well, you better learn how to fight before you start challenging people," Martin reportedly told him at the time. In addition to being a police officer, Martin also trained young boxers at a local gym.
Ali started working with Martin to learn how to box, and soon began his boxing career. In his first amateur bout in 1954, he won the fight by split decision. Ali went on to win the 1956 Golden Gloves tournament for novices in the light heavyweight class. Three years later, he won the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, as well as the Amateur Athletic Union's national title for the light heavyweight division.
Olympic Gold
In 1960, Ali won a spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team, and traveled to Rome, Italy, to compete. At 6' 3", Ali was an imposing figure in the ring, but he also became known for his lightning speed and fancy footwork. After winning his first three bouts, Ali defeated Zbigniew Pietrzkowski from Poland to win the light heavyweight gold medal.
After his Olympic victory, Ali was heralded as an American hero. He soon turned professional with the backing of the Louisville Sponsoring Group, and continued overwhelming all opponents in the ring. Ali took out British heavyweight champion Henry Cooper in 1963, and then knocked out Sonny Liston in 1964 to become the heavyweight champion of the world.
Often referring to himself as "the greatest," Ali was not afraid to sing his own praises. He was known for boasting about his skills before a fight and for his colorful descriptions and phrases. In one of his more famously quoted descriptions, Ali told reporters that he could "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" in the boxing ring.
Conversion to Islam and Suspension
This bold public persona belied what was happening in Ali's personal life, however. He was doing some spiritual searching and decided to join the black Muslim group, the Nation of Islam, in 1964. At first, he called himself "Cassius X," before settling on the name Muhammad Ali.
A few years later, Ali started a different kind of fight with his outspoken views against the Vietnam War. Drafted into the military in April 1967, he refused to serve on the grounds that he was a practicing Muslim minister, with religious beliefs that prevented him from fighting. He was arrested for committing a felony, and almost immediately stripped of his world title and boxing license.
The U.S. Department of Justice pursued a legal case against Ali, denying his claim for conscientious objector status. He was found guilty of violating Selective Service laws and sentenced to five years in prison in June 1967, but remained free while appealing his conviction. Unable to compete professionally in the meantime, Ali missed more than three prime years of his athletic career. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually overturned the conviction in June 1971.
Boxing Comeback
Prior to the Supreme Court's decision, Ali returned to the ring in 1970 with a win over Jerry Quarry. The following year, Ali took on Joe Frazier in what has been called the "Fight of the Century." Frazier and Ali went toe-to-toe for 14 rounds, before Frazier dropped Ali with a vicious left hook in the 15th. Ali recovered quickly, but the judges awarded the decision to Frazier, handing Ali his first professional loss after 31 wins. Ali soon suffered a second loss, to Ken Norton, but he beat Frazier in a 1974 rematch.
Another legendary Ali fight, against undefeated heavyweight champion George Foreman, took place in 1974. Billed as the "Rumble in the Jungle," the bout was organized by promoter Don King and held in Kinshasa, Zaire. For once, Ali was seen as the underdog to the younger, massive Foreman, but he silenced his critics with a masterful performance. He baited Foreman into throwing wild punches with his "rope-a-dope" technique, before stunning his opponent with an eighth-round knockout to reclaim the heavyweight title.
Ali and Frazier locked horns for their grudge match in Quezon City, Philippines, in 1975. Dubbed the "Thrilla in Manila," the bout nearly went the distance, with both men delivering and absorbing tremendous punishment. However, Frazier's trainer threw in the towel after the 14th round, giving the hard-fought victory to Ali.
After losing his title to Leon Spinks in February 1978, Ali defeated him in the September rematch to become the first boxer to win the heavyweight championship three times. Following a brief retirement, he returned to the ring to face Larry Holmes in 1980, but was overmatched against the younger champion. Following one final loss in 1981, to Trevor Berbick, the boxing great retired from the sport.
Philanthropy and Legacy
In his retirement, Ali has devoted much of his time to philanthropy. He announced that he has Parkinson's disease in 1984, a degenerative neurological condition, and has been involved in raising funds for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Over the years, Ali has also supported the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, among other organizations.
Muhammad Ali has traveled to numerous countries, including Mexico and Morocco, to help out those in need. In 1998, he was chosen to be a United Nations Messenger of Peace because of his work in developing countries.
In 2005, Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush. He also opened the Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, that same year. "I am an ordinary man who worked hard to develop the talent I was given," he said. "Many fans wanted to build a museum to acknowledge my achievements. I wanted more than a building to house my memorabilia. I wanted a place that would inspire people to be the best that they could be at whatever they chose to do, and to encourage them to be respectful of one another."
Despite the progression of his disease, Ali remained active in public life. He was on hand to celebrate the inauguration of the first African-American president in January 2009, when Barack Obama was sworn into office. Soon after the inauguration, Ali received the President's Award from the NAACP for his public service efforts.
Ali has been married to his fourth wife, Yolanda, since 1986. The couple has one son, Asaad, and Ali has several children from previous relationships, including daughter Laila, who followed in his footsteps by becoming a champion boxer.
Universally regarded as one of the greatest boxers in history, Ali's stature as a legend continues to grow even as his physical state diminishes. He has been celebrated not only for his remarkable athletic skills, but for his willingness to speak his mind, and his courage to challenge the status quo.
“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” —Muhammad Ali
“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” —Muhammad Ali
SOURCE: biography.com
Thursday, 19 November 2015
FAREWELL TRIBUTE TO JONAH LOMU
Jonah Lomu: All Black rugby great dies, age 40
Story highlights
- Rugby legend dies, age 40, in Auckland
- Lomu scored 37 tries for the All Blacks
- Player had long suffered from kidney disease
(CNN) Former
New Zealand international rugby star Jonah Lomu, widely regarded as one
of the game's finest players ever, died in Auckland early Wednesday
aged 40, according to New Zealand Rugby Union CEO Steve Tew.
"I can confirm the incredibly sad
news that we've lost another All Black great. (Jonah Lomu) died at his
home this morning," Tew said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon
local time.
An earlier statement by Tew on the official New Zealand Rugby Union Twitter account said:
"We're all shocked and deeply saddened at the sudden death of Jonah Lomu.
"We're
lost for words and our heartfelt sympathies go out to Jonah's family...
Jonah was a legend of our game and loved by his many fans both here and
around the world."
Lomu's family also confirmed the news and appealed for privacy.
Tew
said that few details about Lomu's sudden, unexpected death were known
at this point but that the rugby community should reflect on the
contribution that he had made. Since bursting onto the scene in the
mid-1990s his "contribution to the game brought it to another level.
He
was probably the game's first superstar."
Tributes pour in
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key expressed his condolences on Twitter.
"Deeply
saddened to hear of Jonah Lomu's unexpected passing this morning," he
wrote. "The thoughts of the entire country are with his family."
Former teammates and fellow All Blacks also added to the chorus of praise for an exceptional player.
Dan Carter, who helped New Zealand win the 2015 World Cup in his final international match, posted a short message on his Facebook page, sending his condolences to Lomu's family.
Lomu's first international captain, Sean Fitzpatrick, shared the sentiment and called him "a very special person."
"Jonah was one of Auckland's greatest sons," Auckland Mayor Len Brown said.
"He
was an icon who New Zealanders from every walk of life respected both
for his prowess on the rugby field and for the way he dealt with his
health issues."
The Australian Rugby
Union team's official Twitter account put aside traditional All
Black-Wallabies rivalries to honor the rugby great, saying "Our thoughts
go out to Jonah Lomu's family, (the) All Blacks, and the rugby
community. A legend of the game."
Unstoppable on the pitch
146 photos: People we lost in 2015
Lomu
was one of the game's all-time greats, scoring 37 tries in 63 Tests for
the All Blacks in an international career spanning eight years, from
1994 to 2002.
His career total, including club games and rugby sevens
games -- of which he was also a double world champion -- was 160 tries
over 212 games, a comparatively short career.
Originally a rugby league player, he switched codes in time for his breakout tournament, the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.
In
that tournament, he steamrollered over teams, scoring seven tries, and
most notably demolished England with a four-try performance in the
semifinals.
Dubbed the "Muhammad Ali of rugby,"
by then-England captain Will Carling, Lomu's blistering speed and
strength meant that he could sprint 100 meters (109 yards) in under 10.8
seconds, despite weighing 120 kg (265 lb).
Asked
about his favorite memories of Lomu, Tew said: "Anybody of my
generation will remember a World Cup game where he ran over a couple of
guys in white shirts," referring to the hapless 1995 England team.
He
is the joint-highest try scorer at the Rugby World Cup, joined this
year by South Africa's Bryan Habana.
He also is the holder of the record
for most meters made in World Cup competition, at 1,219m (4,999 ft). He
was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in October 2011.
New Zealand's rugby passion 05:13
Career cut short
A
stellar career was likely cut short by a rare kidney condition,
Nephrotic syndrome, which he was diagnosed with in 1995. He underwent a
kidney transplant in 2004.
He had returned to New Zealand from the United Kingdom hours before his death, according to CNN affiliate TVNZ,
where he was acting as a corporate spokesperson for events surrounding
the Rugby World Cup, which concluded at the end of October. New Zealand
won that final against rival Australia 34-17.
SOURCE: CNN
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