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Tributes pour in for Ajax player Cecil Lolo

Picture credit: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
Picture credit: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images

Tributes have been pouring in for Ajax Cape Town defender Cecil Lolo who was killed in a collision in the Mother City on Saturday night.

His death was confirmed by his club‚ which tweeted: “It is with great sadness that we confirm the passing of our brave warrior Cecil Lolo. May his soul rest in peace.”

Details of the accident remain sketchy‚ but it is understood the 27-year-old football star’s car collided with another vehicle on Spine Road near the N2 highway.

One other person is also reported to have died in the accident.

Among those who have sent tributes are Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula‚ the Road Traffic Management Corporation‚ Addidas South Africa and rival football sides like SuperSprot‚ Bidvest Wits and Orlando Pirates.

Mbalula tweeted: “My deepest condolences to this young fallen football soldier — gone too soon: RIP CECIL LOLO.”  

Ajax Cape Town manager Roger de Sa’s tweet read “RIP my True Warrior”.

“Sad news about the passing of Ajax CT defender Cecil Lolo‚” Bafana Bafana captain Itumeleng Khune said via his Instagram account along with a picture of himself posing with Lolo.

“My deepest condolences to his family‚ friends and teammates. (The) road death toll just keeps raising (sic) every year. Death be not proud.”

“So sad to hear about the passing of Cecil Lolo. My sincere condolences to his family friends and teammates‚” Orlando Pirates striker Kermit Erasmus tweeted.

“Life is unfair sometimes. RIP Outyam (Mavuthela). I was lucky enough to play with you for years‚” Pirates striker Amigo Memela added.

“So sad to wake up and hear the passing of a good guy in Cecil Lolo. May his soul rest in peace‚” said former Chiefs striker Matthew Rusike‚ who now plays in Sweden.

“Heart broken‚ sad‚” added Mpumalanga Black Aces goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane.

Expressing its condolences to Lolo’s family and the soccer fraternity on Sunday‚ the Road Traffic Management Corporation said while young people were making history at various higher institutions of learning and around the country‚ providing new hope‚ road crashes continued to rob the nation of young talent in the prime of their lives.

Ajax Cape Town supporters went to Lolo's home yesterday to pay their respects.

 

The death of Lolo has brought back memories of Senzo Meyiwa's murder last year this time.

 

Lolo‚ who was raised in Khayelitsha‚ was a product of the Ajax youth development system and made his Premier Soccer League debut in the 2010-11 season.

He started his career as a striker but was converted to right- back‚ though he had also played as a winger for Ajax‚ showing his incredible versatility.

He was an integral part of the Ajax side that lifted the MTN8 trophy this season and was a stand-out performer for the Urban Warriors in their final victory over Chiefs.

In all he made 83 starts for Ajax‚ netting two goals‚ but was much prized by De Sa for his consistent performances and versatility across the park.

Lolo’s death is the latest loss for South African football and comes almost exactly a year to the day since former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead.

The last 12 months have also seen the country lose the Henyekane brothers‚ Joseph and Richard‚ as well as former national Under-23 captain Cyril Zuma.