Thousands mourn Hansie Cronje

Cronje's father and brother were among those carrying his coffin

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa -- Former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje was remembered as a great sportsman who regretted his mistakes at his funeral on Wednesday.

More than 1,000 people filled the church at his old school, Grey College in Bloemfontein. A large-screen television and rows of seats were set up outside to accommodate the overflowing crowd.

"Hansie should be remembered as the good natured spirit that he was," national cricket captain Shaun Pollock told the funeral service.

Cronje, 32, died when the Hawker Siddeley 748 cargo plane in which he was travelling crashed into a mountain near the town of George in the Western Cape province last week.

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Local media reports said Cronje caught a ride on the ill-fated flight after missing a scheduled one.

Cronje, who took over South Africa's national team at 25 to become its youngest captain, led South Africa to possibly its greatest triumph -- a five-run win over Australia in the Sydney Test of 1994.

A devout Christian, he stunned the cricket world two years ago by admitting he had accepted around $130,000 from bookmakers to influence the course of matches.

He was subsequently banned for life by the United Cricket Board (UCB).

Those at the funeral included Cronje's family and the nation's cricket squad, wearing their team jackets, The Associated Press reported.

Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour and former United Cricket Board head Ali Bacher, both of whom had strongly criticised Cronje's role in the scandal, were also present.

"All our hearts are aching," Pastor Dave Hooper told the mourners. "The world has lost a great cricketing hero."

Cronje's wife Bertha (centre) said it had been an honour to be married to him

Pollock, with the national team standing behind him, told those gathered of Cronje's profound impact on the team.

He spoke of Cronje as an inspiring leader and an endearing prankster, who put petroleum jelly on door handles and once gave a teammate sleeping pills instead of malaria tablets.

"H., we'll miss you," he said, choking back tears.

His wife, Bertha, said a national outpouring of support and grief since his death had helped comfort her and convinced her the nation still loved Cronje.

"Even though Hansie made a mistake, he was still the same Hansie, a kind and loving husband ... an honourable man," she said. "It was an honour to be married to him."

Legendary South African cricketer Peter Pollock, the team's former chief selector and Shaun Pollock's father, praised Cronje's leadership and his patriotism.

Cronje's admission stunned the cricket world

"Hansie loved his country, Hansie loved South Africa, Hansie loved the green and the gold, and he saw his job and his goal to give his fans victory," he said.

Peter Pollock also condemned the "unprecedented, relentless media onslaught" that dogged Cronje in the wake of the scandal.

Members of the UCB were initially told in a letter from the Cronje family they would not be welcome.

But his widow said all were welcome at the funeral, adding that was what her husband would have wanted, prompting a second letter to the UCB which said anyone could attend.