President Thabo Mbeki on Sunday paid tribute to Orlando Pirates striker Lesley Manyathela who died in a car accident on Saturday night.
”Soccer lovers and many others over a wide front in our country will feel deeply sad at the untimely death of Lesley Manyathela,” he said.
”There is special poignancy in the fact that he died on a trip he was making associated with National Women’s Day. We offer our condolences to the family, his teammates and management at Orlando Pirates, as we redouble our resolve as a
nation to push ahead with the treatment of women’s rights in South Africa, which his death will always remind us of,” said Mbeki.
The South African Communist Party said it was deeply shocked and saddened by Manyathela’s death.
”The death of such a young and talented player is indeed tragic and a loss to the nation,” the party said.
Limpopo police said Manyathela died on the N1 outside Musina. Manyathela was travelling to Musina having represented his top club against Jomo Cosmos in the SAA Supa 8 cup at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg.
Orlando Pirates lost the game 2-1 with Manyathela scoring the Buccaneers goal from the penalty spot in the 89th minute.
He was travelling with two other people. One was reported to be in a critical condition while the other one sustained slight injuries. The accident happened at 10.30pm.
The charismatic player was born on September 4 1981 in Limpopo Province. He played 105 games with his country’s youth U-20 and men’s national team.
He ended the latest season as a leading goal scorer in the South African league. – Sapa