Mondli Cele

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.

Mondli Cele

Personal information
Full name	Mondli Cele
Date of birth	(1989-03-19)19 March 1989
Place of birth	Durban, South Africa
Date of death	17 January 2016(2016-01-17) (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

Club career

Gamalakhe United

Born in Durban, South Africa, Cele joined Port Shepstone-based second division club Gamalakhe United in 2012.^[1]

Maritzburg United

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]

International career

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]

Death

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]