13 Facts About Henry Cele

In 2007, Henry Cele died after spending two weeks in the hospital due to a chest infection.

On 20 June 1941, Henry Cele was born in KwaMashu, Durban, South Africa.

Henry Cele was raised by his grandmother, at the age of 16 due to financial problems he had to leave school and turned to sports.

Henry Cele, nicknamed "Black Cat" for his prowess as a goalkeeper, played for Aces United in the old South African Soccer League in the 1960s.

Henry Cele played for Lamontville Golden Arrows FC soccer team in Lamontville Township and coached a professional soccer club in South Africa until his death.

In 1978, Henry Cele felt he was he was too old to and retired from the sport, hence he started coaching and managing players.

In November 1981, Henry Cele was approached to audition to play the role Shaka, a Zulu King who led an army against the British empire in 1800s, in the stage production "Shaka" which ran for a year.

In 1988, Henry Cele acted in David Winters's Rage to Kill, and Freedom Fighters.

In 1996, Henry Cele acted in Stephen Hopkins's The Ghost and the Darkness.

Henry Cele appeared again in 2001 as Shaka in the 3-hour 2-part miniseries, called Shaka Zulu: The Citadel.

In later years, Henry Cele moved from his suburban home in Glenmore, south of Durban, and returned to his hometown in KwaMashu township.

Henry Cele died in Durban on 2 November 2007, after two weeks in hospital due to a chest infection.

Henry Cele is buried at the Stellawood Cemetery in Durban eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.