Sinethemba Jantjie
Personal information
Date of birth (1989-02-15)15 February 1989
Date of death 1 April 2019(2019-04-01) (aged 30)
Place of death Bethlehem, South Africa
Position(s) Winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Mbombela United 12 (3)
2016–2019 Free State Stars 63 (8)
Total 75 (11)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sinethemba Jantjie (15 February 1989 – 1 April 2019) was a South African professional footballer who played for Mbombela United and Free State Stars as a winger.

Early and personal life

Jantjie came from Whittlesea.[1]

Career

Jantjie was described as a "late bloomer who rose to prominence in the 2015/16 season with Mbombela United when he helped take the club close to promotion to the Premier League".[1] During that season he scored 3 goals in 12 league games.[2] He then moved to Free State Stars for the 2016–17 season,[1] scoring 8 goals in 63 league games during his 3 seasons with the club.[2] He was due to sign for Bidvest Wits ahead of the 2019–20 season.[1] Following his death, Bidvest Wits declared his contract "null and void".[3]

Death

Jantjie died in a road accident in Bethlehem on 1 April 2019, aged 30.[1] He was buried on 6 April 2019.[3] At his funeral the Free State Stars players said they would dedicate the remaining games to Jantjie's memory.[4][5]

Following his death, Free State Stars' next match was postponed for his funeral,[6] whilst the PSL said their forthcoming fixtures would observe a minute's silence.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Nick Said and Tiyani Wa Ka Mabasa (1 April 2019). "PSL star Sinethemba Jantjie killed in car accident, Free State Stars confirm". Times Live. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b Sinethemba Jantjie at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b Khaya Ndubane (12 April 2019). "Wits declare Jantjie's contract 'null and void'". Citizen. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  4. ^ Tiyani Wa Ka Mabasa (11 April 2019). "Free State Stars out to turn tragedy into triumph". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  5. ^ Pedro Mapelo (7 April 2019). "Free State Stars captain vows to dedicate all remaining games to Sinethemba Jantjie". IOL. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  6. ^ Mark Gleeson (3 April 2019). "Free State Stars game postponed for Sinethemba Jantjie funeral". Times Live. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. ^ "PSL to observe moment of silence for Sinethemba Jantjie". Sports24. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
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