Mondli Cele

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.

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)
Position(s) 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

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. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  12. "Lentjies Dedicates PSL Survival To Mondli Cele". Soccer Laduma. 31 May 2016.
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