LIMPOPO – Players from Malale United FC were very lucky to survive after the bakkie they were travelling in overturned on the Malale-Masisi road at around 17:00 on Saturday, July 31.
The players were on their way back home from a tournament at Sigonde 2. The driver of the vehicle is said to have lost control as he tried to prevent hitting a passing pedestrian.
Takalani Ndou, who was discharged with minor injuries, said the incident happened very quickly.
Accident victim,Takalani Ndou.
“There was really nothing the driver could have done to avoid the accident. A pedestrian walking next to the road just suddenly jumped right into the road. We all shouted, and the vehicle overturned,” he recalled.
The injured passengers were treated at Messina Hospital.
At the time of going to print, four of them were still in hospital, including the driver.
The team manager of Malale United FC, Edwin Tshikonelo, said they were shocked when they heard about the accident.
“We are in contact with the families and wish the injured players a speedy recovery,” Tshikonelo said and thanked the community and teams around the area for their support.
The secretary of the Musina Local Football Association (LFA), Colbert Nempumbuluni, said the team was not affiliated with his organisation, but the association was still relieved to hear that no lives had been lost.
He wished the victims a speedy recovery. Musina LFA was compelled to pause their league programme after the president’s announcement of adjusted lockdown regulations.
He appealed to soccer teams to stop playing matches during this period.