Former South Africa international Anele Ngcongca, who won 53 caps for his country, has finally been buried in his home town of Gugulethu.
Ngcongca, who spent nine years in European football with Belgian side Genk, was initially set to be buried on 3 December but the ceremony was postponed due to her mom’s ill health.
Her mother fell ill immediately after she received the news and although she wanted the funeral to go ahead, the family just took a decision to postpone.
The 33-year-old died in a car accident on the N2 freeway near Mtunzini on 23 November a few days before his unveiling as an AmaZulu player, on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns.
Ngcongca death triggered mourning across Africa but nowhere was it felt more fiercely than in a country that saw him as a national hero.
At the burial, South Africa’s Minister of Sports Nathi Mthethwa paid a touching tribute to the hero who was a member of the Bafana Bafana squad at the 2010 World Cup.
“It is not a joyful occasion because the icy hand of death has once again visited our beloved Anele Ngcongco. A gentle giant of sport. A person who has been described by his peers as full of love, warmth and life,” Minister Mthethwa said in part.
“I am still reeling with shock and sadness by the tragic transition of your son Anele. It has been brought to my attention on how close Anele was to the entire family including his child, nephews and nieces, the role he played in maintaining wonderful family bonds must forever be cherished and be applauded. I can only imagine what the family is currently going through, I am certain that the grief that uMama is going through it is indeed, overwhelming.
“I must indicate through Anele football reputation that his passing is not only going to create a permanent vacuum to the family but it is also going to be felt by both his football family and the entire sporting fraternity. Anele remained a disciplined athlete and an ambassador for our country on and off the field.”
During his career, Ngcongca played for French side Troyes AC and also spent nine seasons at Belgian side Genk, competing in the Champions League in five of those and making 279 appearances.
The defender was named in the club’s team of the century in 2015 alongside Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
