Men who died in Betshwana accident were soccer players
Matatiele: The five young men who died in Monday’s horrific car accident were confirmed as soccer players from emaXesibeni, Eastern Cape. The deceased youngers played for the Young Challengers football club (FC) and AmaXesibe FC. They were travelling in an NP200 Nissan white bakkie when the driver lost control at a sharp curve, two kilometres from N2 to Mt Ayliff. Five people died on the spot, one player was admitted to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.
The players are Xola Magwagwadla from Mahedeni locality, who was a goalkeeper for Young Challengers, a Tela location outfit, Nkosikhona “Phuka” Moshai, a player for Young Challengers, Alungile Qwane from Betshwana who has been admitted in a hospital also a player for Young Challengers. Yongama Ramos Mzolisi from Mbangweni location in Ntabankulu who was a player for AmaXesibe FC. Avuyile Mtshoko and Viwe Mtshoko are both from Saphukanduku. The memorial service of all the players will take place tomorrow Thursday 31 March at Mt Ayliff Town Hall whilst the funerals will take place in different locations on the weekend of 09 April 2022.
Young Challengers team Manager Nolitha Nyangule was devastated by this tragedy stating that she was so hurt to lose such valuable players as a team. “These were my children. I am so hurt and I am sick as I speak to you right. Gosh!, they left us while we were still celebrating the victory from winning by 3-2 at the Mt Ayliff derby when we were playing against Ayliff City in the SAB League and one of them Phuka (Nkosikhona Moshai) scored the winning goal. May their souls rest in peace, we’ll remember you guys ngemisebenzi emihle (beautiful work),” said sobbing Nyangule.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the team Samkelo Xawu sent words of condolences to all the families of the deceased.” I feel very bad for losing good players like these ones. It is difficult to even explain how I feel because they were more than friends to me and we normally spent time together,” concluded Xawu.
