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Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki devastated after Sundowns star Motjeka Madisha's shock death

Motjeka Madisha played for all the national team age groups before breaking into the Bafana Bafana fold.
Motjeka Madisha played for all the national team age groups before breaking into the Bafana Bafana fold.
Image: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki is struggling to deal with the death of Mamelodi Sundowns player Motjeka Madisha after he was informed of the shock news on Sunday morning.

Details are still sketchy at the moment but the accident happened near Kempton Park in the early hours of Sunday morning and it is not clear if the 25-year-old Bafana and Sundowns player was driving alone at the time of the crash.

A stunned Ntseki said Madisha's death is a devastating blow as it comes just weeks after former Bafana defender Anele Ngcongca also died in a horrific car accident.

“It is so devastating for such an up-and-coming player to lose his life this way.

"They don’t come more professional like the late Madisha. He was ever smiling‚ humble and was the first to arrive and [last to] leave the training ground‚ hence his rising star status‚’’ said Ntseki.

Ngcongca died in a car crash on the N2 outside Mtunzini on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast last month and was buried in his hometown in Cape Town a few days ago.

Ntseki said Madisha graduated through all the junior national team age groups and eventually made his presence felt in Bafana where he was a pivotal member of the SA side attempting to reach both the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup tournaments.

"He was a rising star with the right attitude‚ and his positive attitude among other players was always invaluable.

"This is sad for football. To his family‚ club and football fraternity in general‚ we are gutted and devastated; my deepest condolences.

"We are hurt but hope his spirit will be a driving force to our attempts to reach the AFCON and FIFA World Cup tournaments."

South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan was equally stunned as the accident happened just hours after attending Sundowns’s 50th Anniversary celebrations at the Sandton Convention Centre on Saturday evening.

"I am still trying to ascertain facts of what really transpired but this is terrible news for football. Condolences to Sundowns‚ his family and entire football family‚’’ said Jordaan.