Port Elizabeth, Aug 12: South African soccer fans are mourning the death of their international striker Lesley Manyathela. South African striker Lesley Manyathela's death in a weekend car accident has stunned his fans, who had made the amiable 22-year-old one of the biggest local names in the sport. Manyathela, who played for South Africa's national Bafana Bafana team as well as the Orlando Pirates club, was killed late on Saturday (August 9) when he crashed his car on a highway outside his hometown of Musina in Limpopo province. Two passengers were injured in the accident. "Our soccer is much poorer without a player of such promise. His family's loss is the nation's loss," the daily Sowetan newspaper said in an editorial on Monday. President Thabo Mbeki was among those who sent offers of condolences to the Manyathela family.


Manyathela had earlier on Saturday scored a goal in a match between the Pirates and Jomo Cosmos which Pirates lost 2-1. He won nine caps for South Africa, scoring three goals, after making his debut in March last year.


Bureau Report