AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
SOUTH Africa’s football community is mourning the tragic death of one of the country’s rising stars, Motjeka Madisha, who died after a horrific high-speed crash.
Fellow soccer stars, fans and football clubs have offered condolences to Madisha (25), a Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana defender.
Madisha,who won many titles with Sundowns and seemed destined for greater things in football, died after an accident in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg. The accident took place hours after the club celebrated its 50th anniversary at a gala dinner. It also took place two days after his former team mate, Anele Ngcongca, who also died after a car crash, was buried.
Madisha joined Sundowns in 2015 from Highlands Park. Playing under coach Pitso Mosimane, he won three ABSA Premiership titles between 2017 and 2020.
One of Madisha’s coaches at Sundown, Rhulani Mokoena paid a heartfelt tribute to him. Mokoena said: In this life, I can say I was truly loved. I don’t know if I could ever love you the way you loved me… you called me daddy and even after the doctors banned hugs and handshakes at work, you refused my fist and demanded a hug. We spoke just yesterday when you checked up on me…”
Madisha’s former coach, Pitso Mosimane, who now coaches Egyptian giants El Ahly said: “Rest in peace, my boy.”
South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan said he was concerned at the number of deaths of football players who had died on the SA’s roads. “It comes so shortly on the loss of Anele. He was buried on Thursday and on Saturday, two days later, the loss of another key player in the Bafana team. The loss of leading players through car accidents over the many years have become a burden on the nation. We just pray that in this period of festive season we don’t see any further losses of lives through car accidents,” he said.
Thembinkosi Lorch, the Orlando Pirates paid a lovely tribute. “Rest in eternal peace boy, you were a soldier who fought hard just to put a smile on the faces of SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL. We will miss you and always love.”
South African national football team, Bafana Bafana said:It is with great sadness that we learnt of the passing on of @BafanaBafana and Mamelodi Sundowns defender, Motjeka Madisha. We are shocked and devastated.”
The message from Cape Town City Football Club read: “It is with great sadness that we learn (of) the passing of Motjeka Madisha. Our thoughts are with Sundowns, his friends and family.”
In their tribute, Lamontville Golden Arrows said: “Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Motjeka Madisha who has tragically passed away. May his soul rest in peace.”
Supersport United, sent this message: “We send our deepest condolences to the families, friends & football fraternity for the tragic loss of Mamelodi Sundowns defender Motjeka Madisha. Our thoughts are with you in this trying time. May his soul rest in peace.”
