Full Name: Ronnie Schloss
Place of Birth: South Africa
Profession: Football Administrator, Quantity Surveyor
Notable Contributions: Chairperson of Wits Football Club, Pioneer of Integration in SA Football, Honoured by Wits University with Stadium Stand Renaming
Early Career and Beginnings
Ronnie Schloss began his football journey in 1962 while studying quantity surveying at Wits University. At the time, football was overshadowed by rugby and cricket at the university. Despite this, Schloss’s passion for the game led him to rise through the ranks — first as Secretary, then as Chairman of the Wits Football Club.
The Bloemfontein Celtic Game (1962)
A defining moment in his football story occurred in 1962 when Wits was set to play Bloemfontein Celtic in the National Football League but had no coach and limited resources. Schloss recruited players from the Wits canteen, enticing them with the promise of a train ride. The team suffered a 17-0 defeat — but it marked the beginning of both his leadership journey and Wits’ pursuit of footballing excellence.
Integration and Transformation
During the apartheid era, Wits became the first white football club to play in Soweto. Schloss worked with Kaizer Motaung and Irvin Khoza to build a mixed team. They added Black players to Wits’ squad — one of whom was the future football legend Marks Maponyane.
Facing societal opposition and segregation laws, Schloss and his players made a decision to act as a unit:
– They rented their own bus to avoid racial restrictions on public transport
– Refused to patronize restaurants or venues that denied entry to any team member
– Insisted on togetherness at all times: “We either go as a unit, or we don’t go”
Longstanding Contributions to SA Football
Over six decades, Schloss worked in numerous football administrative capacities, fostering transformation and unity through the sport. He is known not for being a forceful administrator, but for being “a friend of football” — according to Raymond Hack, former SAFA CEO and lifelong friend.
With Raymond Hack:
He has been praised by legends like Kaizer Motaung for his collaborative spirit and lasting contributions to South African football.
Message from Motaung during the honour ceremony:
Honours
In a renaming ceremony at Wits University, Schloss was honoured with the **Ronnie Schloss Stand**, next to the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome. His legacy is seen not as one of past glory, but as an enduring commitment to football and inclusion.
Legacy
Ronnie Schloss embodies football as a tool for social cohesion, education, and transformation. His work with Wits FC and national football pioneers created a lasting foundation for inclusive football in South Africa.
With his family at the ceremony:
Summary Profile
Name: Ronnie Schloss
Profession: Football Administrator, Quantity Surveyor
Clubs/Institutions:
– Wits University Football Club – Secretary, Chairman
– Collaborated with Kaizer Motaung and Irvin Khoza on integration initiatives
Honours:
– Ronnie Schloss Stand, Wits University
Key Legacy:
– Promoted integration during apartheid
– Instrumental in Wits FC’s transformation
– Over 60 years of contribution to South African football
Ronnie Schloss Grand Stand reveal by the Wits Vice Chancellor:
