Soccer Legend Cedric Xulu
Thulani Cedric also known as “Sugar Ray” Xulu, was born 19 December 1939. Sugar-Ray stays in Clermont and is married with three children. Sugar-Ray attended school from Lutheran Lower Primary; Roman Catholic Higher Primary; Fannin (Ziphathele) High School and Ohlange High School (College) in Inanda and obtained a University Junior Certificate.
Sugar-Ray started playing soccer at armature level, in Clermont Home Defenders, he went on to Junior Soccer early 1950’s, and then Senior Soccer from 1957 and represented Durban – Natal and South African XI’s. Sugar-Ray played professional soccer thereafter with Avalon Athletic Football Club in Durban, Mbabane Swallows in Swaziland, Hammanskraal United, Zulu Royals/Amazulu Football Club. Sugar-Ray retired from playing soccer in 1983.
Despite his retirement from professional soccer in 1983, Xulu still maintains his passion for the sport and has close ties to his old football club. He attended a SAFA (South African Football Association) Coaching Courses from 1993-1998 and his coaching experience involves working for the Southern KwaZulu Natal Football Association as Director of Coaching. He was the SAFA – National selector for all provincial age groups. Sugar-Ray represented the PSL (Professional Soccer League) Disciplinary Committee in Durban and at present, Sugar-Ray is a Transnet U-14 coach.
Sugar-Ray has earned himself awards such as :
- Player of the Tournament at the Somtseu Road Sports Ground in 1966,
- The Presidential Sports Award by the President of the country (Honourable President Thabo Mbeki) 2001,
- Being honoured by the KZN Province for using his soccer nickname in naming the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium in Clermont, Durban.
- He received the Chairman’s Award at the 2019 PSL Awards.
Xulu died on 4th May 2020 at the age of 80.