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SA football dealt another stunning blow after Mamelodi Sundowns player Motjeka Madisha dies

Motjeka Madisha represented his country during the International Friendly match between Bafana Bafana and Namibia at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on October 08, 2020.
Motjeka Madisha represented his country during the International Friendly match between Bafana Bafana and Namibia at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on October 08, 2020.
Image: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

South African football was dealt another stunning blow after Mamelodi Sundowns player Motjeka Madisha died in a car accident on Sunday morning.

Details are still sketchy at the moment but the accident happened near Kempton Park and it is not clear if the 25-year-old was driving alone at the time of the crash.

Sundowns said in a statement sent to SowetanLIVE's sister publication TimesLIVE that they would issue a more detailed statement during the course of the day on Sunday after speaking the family.

"We have become aware of certain media reports concerning Motjeka Madisha and will make an announcement in due course‚" the club said. 

However SA Football Players Union (Safpu) confirmed the news, taking to Twitter to extend their condolences.

“We are heartbroken. The Masandawana defender passed away in a car accident in Johannesburg in the early hours of this morning. Our condolences to his family, friends and football fraternity,’’ read Safpu’s tweet.

Ekurhuleni Metro Police spokesman Kobeli Mokheseng referred all queries to William Ntladi of Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, who was not immediately available for comment.

Madisha's death comes just weeks after former Sundowns team-mate Anele Ngcongca's fatal car crash last month.

Mamelodi Sundowns were still mourning the death of Anele Ngcongca (L), who was Motjeka Madisha's teammate at Mamelodi Sundowns as seen in this photograph of them during the 2017 Caf Champions League training in Chloorkop.
Mamelodi Sundowns were still mourning the death of Anele Ngcongca (L), who was Motjeka Madisha's teammate at Mamelodi Sundowns as seen in this photograph of them during the 2017 Caf Champions League training in Chloorkop.
Image: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

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.

Insiders told TimesLIVE that Madisha and Ngcongca were roommates at Sundowns whenever the team was in camp.

The much-loved Ngcongca had just left Sundowns to join AmaZulu at the time of his death.

The Brazilians are planning to retire the number 16 shirt in his honour in the coming days.

This is a developing story......