Mamelodi Sundowns player Mpho Gift Leremi, who died in a car accident on Monday night, would have been a star in 2010, the minister of sport said on Tuesday.
”There is no doubt that Gift formed part of a nucleus of the Bafana Bafana plans for the 2010 Fifa World Cup establishment,” Makhenkesi Stofile said in a statement.
He said Leremi was ”one of South Africa’s most idolised soccer players to have immaculately graced our local and international stadiums”.
The player was killed at about 9pm on Monday when he lost control of his car and was flung out of the vehicle on the R556 between Vaal Road and Brackendowns in Alberton.
Stofile said it grieved him profusely to learn that Leremi had only arrived back in South Africa from his African continental engagement on Monday when he met with his ”sudden and tragic death”.
”Gift Leremi’s current and former players could only describe him as a warm and a humble individual in his approach to life,” said Stofile.
”[He] had a huge natural talent and [was] the only soccer player who could score goals with both his left and right boot.”
Tributes poured in on Tuesday for Leremi, who was formerly with Orlando Pirates.
South African Football Players’ Union spokesperson Elvis Sekgobela said Leremi was one of the best midfielders in the country and a key player who would have contributed much to Bafana Bafana.
”Mpho Leremi’s football skills will be sorely missed by the South African fans and his passing has left a massive void to his family and South African football in general.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said Leremi’s death was a cruel blow to South Africa soccer.
”His loss is a cruel blow to our national game. He will be impossible to replace,” said Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven.
Cosatu was joined by the Socialist Party Of Azania (Sopa) in sending condolences to Leremi’s family, friends and colleagues.
Sopa said it was ”in shock” and mourned his death.
”As a party, we knew and loved Gift as an exceptionally talented player, whom we rated alongside the great players of yesteryear like Teenage Dladla, Jomo Sono, Ace Ntsoelengoe and others.”
The South African Communist Party (SACP) said Leremi had been in the prime of his playing career.
”Gift, as he was well known to many soccer lovers, was one of the prime stars of South African football and indeed one whom the nation was looking up to to play an important role in 2010.
”As one wise man said, ‘the good die young’,” said the SACP.
The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) said it dipped its red revolutionary banners in honour of Leremi.
It said Leremi had refused to be crushed by his township background and upbringing, and was determined to succeed through his soccer talent.
It also urged Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates to dedicate the South African Airways Supa8 final to the memory and honour of Leremi’s contribution to the development of both soccer teams.
The National Democratic Convention (Nadeco) said Leremi’s death was not only a loss to the South African Football Association, but also to the country. — Sapa