The memorial service of the late Joel Faya will be held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Thursday (16:00), the Department of Sports in KwaZulu-Natal has confirmed.  

Faya passed away on Friday last week after a short illness, the statement said at the time from his former club AmaZulu.   

The KwaMashu-born player was on the bench for Clive Barker’s AmaZulu side that won the 1992 Coca-Cola Cup final against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium, as his playing career was nearing its end at the time.  

He was part of the controversial 1981 Usuthu side that was knocked out of the Mainstay Cup by Orlando Pirates in the semifinal.  

Legendary Jomo Sono scored the winning goal at Orlando Stadium, but AmaZulu felt wronged. A combination play by Mafa Ace Nduli, the late Sugar Ray Xulu, and Faya left Pirates’ defense exposed, and Nduli found the net. However, a questionable offside call by the referee disallowed the goal. 

After his playing days were over, “Fire” was part of AmaZulu’s team scouting and coaching the club’s development.