Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Mondli Cele | ||
Date of birth | 19 March 1989 | ||
Place of birth | Durban, South Africa | ||
Date of death | 17 January 2016 | (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) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
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.
Born in Durban, South Africa, Cele joined Port Shepstone-based second division club Gamalakhe United in 2012.[1]
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]
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]
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]