Brian Mandela loses teammate in road accident
By DAVID KWALIMWA
A South African footballer died following a fatal road accident on Saturday night, hours after he and teammate, Kenya international Brian Mandela, had scored in a league match.
Martizburg United’s Mondli Cele is reported to have succumbed to injuries after crashing his car while driving home after featuring in a Premier Soccer League match against Orlando Pirates earlier in the day that ended 3-3.
Cele scored the opening goal of the game, while Harambee Stars defender Mandela scored the third for his team.
Martizburg Chairman Farouk Kadodia confirmed the incident.
OTHER DEATHS
“I am at the scene at this moment and can confirm to you that he has passed away,” the club official told South Africa website Kickoff
Cele is the latest in a growing list of sports personalities to lose his life on the road.
In 2013, Pirates striker Leslie Manyathela died in a road accident hours after he had scored for his club in a Cup match. At the time of his death, he was reportedly in negotiations to join French top tier side Olympic Lyon.
Another sportsperson, South Africa’s assistant coach Thomas Madigage succumbed to injuries after his car reportedly hit a donkey in 2012.
Madigage was returning home from duty, having been in the dugout during Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 win over Kenya’s Harambee Stars in Nairobi a few hours earlier.
