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Stofile: SA loses 2010 star
04/09/2007 19:12 - (SA)
Johannesburg - 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 idolized soccer players to have igraced our local and international stadiums".
The player was killed around 21:00 on Monday when he lost control of his car and was flung out of the vehicle on the R556 between Vaal Road and Brackendowns, Alberton.
Stofile said it grieved him profusely to learn Leremi had only arrived back in SA 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.
Has left a massive void
The SA 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 SA Trade Unions said Leremi's death was a cruel blow to South Africa soccer.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) said Leremi had been at 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.
The National Democratic Convention (Nadeco) said Leremi's death was not only a loss to the SA Football Association but to the country.
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