Mondli Cele

Mondli Cele
Personal information
Full name Mondli Cele
Date of birth (1989-03-19)19 March 1989
Place of birth Durban, South Africa
Date of death 17 January 2016(2016-01-17) (aged 26)
Place of death Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Gamalakhe United
2014–2016 Maritzburg United 37 (5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Mondli Cele (19 March 1989 – 17 January 2016) was a South African association football midfielder. He played his career only in South Africa, and died in a car accident near Pietermaritzburg.

Club career

Gamalakhe United

Born in Durban, South Africa, Cele joined Port Shepstone-based second division club Gamalakhe United in 2012.[1]

Maritzburg United

Cele caught the eye of Maritzburg United coach, Steve Komphela, after impressing in a Nedbank Cup match against Engen Santos.[2] In August 2014, he joined Maritzburg United.[3]

International career

Cele was included in the preliminary South Africa squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, but did not make the final 23.[4][5] Maritzburg United captain Ashley Hartog said Cele's call-up, along with Kwanda Mngonyama, inspired their teammates.[6]

Death

Cele died on Sunday, 17 January 2016, when a car he was in plunged into the Msunduzi River near Pietermaritzburg.[7] He had scored for Maritzburg United during their match against Orlando Pirates earlier on that day.[8] After his death, tributes to him were paid, including Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula saying it should serve as a reminder to fight road carnage in South Africa,[9] the Premier Soccer League observing a moment of silence at all the Sunday's matches,[10] Ghanaian former international player John Paintsil,[11] and Kurt Lentjies revealing that Maritzburg United had dedicated their 2015–16 Premier Soccer League season to him.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Lewis, Marc (17 January 2016). "Maritzburg United to visit Mondli Cele's family". Eyewitness News.
  2. ↑ "Mondli Cele on Bafana Bafana call up". Kick Off. 19 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Maritzburg Sign Tsepo Moloto, Six Others". Soccer Laduma. 8 August 2014.
  4. ↑ Cooper, Ryan (18 December 2014). "Analysing Shakes Mashaba's Bafana squad". Kick Off.
  5. ↑ "South African star Cele dies as car plunges into river". The Express Tribune. 18 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Maritzburg United buoyed by Bafana Afcon call-ups for Mngonyama and Cele". Kick Off. 23 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Breaking News: Maritzburg United's Mondli Cele dies in car accident". Maritzburg Sun. 17 January 2016.
  8. ↑ "Maritzburg United player Mondli Cele killed in a car accident". The Times. 17 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Maritzburg Uniteds Mondli Cele passes away". Eyewitness News. 17 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "Maritzburg Utd player dies in car crash". SuperSport. 17 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "Cele never forgot where he came from: John Pantsil". SABC News. 23 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "Lentjies Dedicates PSL Survival To Mondli Cele". Soccer Laduma. 31 May 2016.
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