A friendly soccer game between two local teams ended on a sombre note when a soccer player collapsed and died.
Mlungiseleli “Pule” Nqetho (28) of the Eleven Attackers team passed away at the Zwelethemba Stadium last Thursday while he was on the soccer field for his team.
According to a family member and spokesperson for the family, Zido Nqetho did not show any signs of being sick when the family last saw him, a few hours before his passing.
“He had just come back from work and rushed to the stadium to play soccer,” the family member said.
A few hours later, a close friend and teammate arrived at the deceased’s home where he stayed with his girlfriend, to relay the news of his untimely passing.
Pule’s love for soccer started at a very young age, so much that he named himself “Pule” after the acclaimed Orlando Pirates player.
He will be sorely missed among the local soccer community, as he moved from one club to another.
“He loved soccer so much that everything came after it,” his family says.
The family member further shared that when they arrived in Worcester from the Eastern Cape, Nqetho found a home with the Eleven Attackers soccer team.
“He frequently changed clubs but on the day of his death, he had officially received clearance to return to the Attackers side.”
Two weeks before his passing Nqetho had apparently collapsed, but the reason for that is still unknown.
“When he collapsed, we took him to the hospital and the doctor only assessed his brain and told him that he was fine. Only now, after the autopsy, we learned that his one heart valve was leaking.”
The news, which came as a shock, is still unbelievable to his family, especially to those family members in the Eastern Cape.
“It is still very difficult to explain to the elderly in the village that he just collapsed and died,” the family spokesperson says.
His former teammates and coach, before he rejoined Eleven Attackers said his passing leaves a big void.
“He was very motivated, and disciplined. He was very mature and was able to motivate the youngsters to do their best,” Zuko Mqwebedu says.
Standard tried to get hold of the Eleven Attackers coach, but was unable to by the time of going to print.
