Football rocked by tragic car crash death of World Cup hero
The football world is mourning the tragic death of South African World Cup hero Anele Ngcongca.
The former international defender was killed in a car accident on Monday, his Premier Soccer League club AmaZulu have confirmed.
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The 33-year-old was a member of the South Africa squad at their home World Cup in 2010 and started the 2-1 victory over France.
He won 53 caps over seven years in the national team, with his last appearance coming in 2016.
He also spent nine seasons at Belgian side Genk, competing in the Champions League in five of those and making 279 appearances.
The right back was named in the club's Team of the Century in 2015 alongside Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
Ngcongca was a passenger in the vehicle as it lost control on a highway 50 kilometres north of Durban.
The female driver is in a critical condition in hospital.
“On arrival of IPSS advanced life support paramedics, they found an adult male lying approximately 30m from the wrecked vehicle,” Paul Herbst of IPSS Medical Rescue said in a statement.
“The man showed no signs of life and was declared dead by paramedics.”
Mamelodi Sundowns defender Anele Ngcongca who was on loan at Amazulu passed away in a car accident in the early hours of this morning. pic.twitter.com/ubIMh4jRey
— Man’s NOT Barry Roux (@AdvoBarryRoux) November 23, 2020
Football world in shock over Ngcongca’s death
Ngcongca has been hailed by his former coach, Pitso Mosimane, as an “unsung hero”.
“We were blessed to have him,” Mosimane told AFP as he recalled the four years they spent together at Mamelodi Sundowns before both left the Pretoria outfit recently.
Mosimane joined record eight-time African champions Al Ahly of Egypt while Ngcongca moved to AmaZulu, another top-flight South African club who are based in Durban.
“He brought so much experience to Sundowns having played in Europe and was a brilliant man marker,” Mosimane said.
“If our opponents had a star attacker, I would assign Anele to shadow him.
“On the field he was a great if often underrated footballer and off the field he was an absolute gentleman.
“My condolences to all those who knew and loved Anele.”
His agent, former Orlando Pirates coach Mike Makaab, said: “My heart is sore. I have lost my son, Anele Ngcongca, a young man with whom I shared a special relationship for over a decade.”
Tributes have also been flooding in on social media.
Our condolences on the untimely passing away of former Bafana Bafana defender Anele Ngcongca, who died in a car accident this morning.
May his soul RIP. pic.twitter.com/dCpxLu47Cz— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) November 23, 2020
☠ @orlandopirates is saddened by the passing of footballer Anele Ngcongca.
On behalf of the extended @orlandopirates family, we convey our heartfelt and deepest sympathy to the Ngcongca family.
Rest In Peace.
⚫⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/tOy5cTwERH— Orlando Pirates FC (@orlandopirates) November 23, 2020
Absolutely tragic news that former Genk, Sundowns and #Bafana defender, Anele Ngcongca, has passed away after a car accident in the early hours of this morning... Devastating.
Another South African footballer taken too soon on the roads. A depressingly regular occurrence. RIP. pic.twitter.com/ngjaaDX5nZ— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) November 23, 2020
Kaizer Chiefs has received with deepest sadness the news of the passing of footballer Anele Ngcongca. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends, as well as his past and present clubs. Gone too soon. May his soul rest peacefully. pic.twitter.com/L5g4Fq9dWX
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) November 23, 2020
RIP Anele Ngcongca 🕊️
Soccer Laduma sends condolences to family and friends of the departed star and all those affected by his passing. pic.twitter.com/xR3PMLGOy5— Soccer Laduma (@Soccer_Laduma) November 23, 2020
Anele Ngcongca, who was part of South Africa's 2010 #WorldCup squad and won over 50 caps for @BafanaBafana, has died at the age of just 33.
Our thoughts are with Anele's loved ones at this very sad time. pic.twitter.com/9KJmLdSIBf— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 23, 2020
R.I.P Anele Ngcongca , one best to come out of Cape Town.I
In case you doubt his quality, here's a pic of him and Kevin De Bruyne while playing for Racing Genk in Belgium
R.I.P Gondo pic.twitter.com/Kox02mf0Wv— Ami (@AmiJaneD) November 23, 2020
The President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, the Board of Directors, Technical Team, Players, Management, Staff, Supporters of Mamelodi Sundowns FC & the entire Masandawana Family express their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Anele Ngcongca who passed away today. pic.twitter.com/aOI2s4giIg
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) November 23, 2020
It feels weird to say this. Rest in peace bhut Anele Ngcongca. You were the most kindest. The best big brother to my friend. Your sudden death has affected us all. 💔 thank you for undivumela ndihlale kwakho and accommodating me whenever. It was an honour knowing you. RIP legend. pic.twitter.com/9KitTrAik0
— Zuki (@Zuki_Lamani) November 23, 2020
with agencies
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