Leopards player follows Leremi to the grave

Published Sep 7, 2007

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By Lebogang Seale

Yet another soccer player has died in a car crash.

The Black Leopards captain, Mozambican national Fernando Matola, was killed along with his wife and two children when he lost control of his VW City Golf.

The accident happened at around 11am on Sunday along the Tzaneen/Lydenburg road in Limpopo. Matola's vehicle is said to have veered off the road and hit two trees before bursting into flames.

Matola, his wife Sheila Mavila, five-year-old son Fernando and one-year-old daughter Paulo were burnt beyond recognition, according to Limpopo police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Motlafela Mojapelo.

He said police discovered only late this week, through his team's descriptions of the car and other occupants in it, that one of the people in the car was Matola.

At the time of the accident, 25-year-old Matola was driving towards Mozambique, where he was to join the national team for an African Cup of Nations 2008 qualifier game against Tanzania.

Leopards spokesperson Tshifiwa Thidiela said on Thursday that they became worried when Matola, who joined Leopards four years ago, failed to contact the team's management to confirm his arrival in his home country, as he had promised to do.

He added that Matola's teammates at Leopards were so devastated by his death that management had organise counselling for them.

News of his death comes at a time when the country is still mourning the death of Sundowns midfielder Gift Leremi, who died on Monday night when he lost control of a borrowed BMW.

Thousands of people, including football officials and fans, were expected to converge in Klipspruit, Soweto, this morning for a memorial service for Leremi.

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