Pirates star Pule relives horrific kidnapping ordeal

Orlando Pirates midfielder Vincent Pule has opened up about a harrowing experience that brought him face-to-face with death and left him with deep emotional scars. 

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Pule’s survival is nothing short of miraculous, as he found himself in the clutches of kidnappers who confined him in the trunk of a car for a gruelling five-hour ordeal.

This incident isn’t isolated within the Pirates’ ranks, as fellow player Monnapule Saleng had his car tampered with, in what appears to be an attempted theft. 

Pule shared his traumatic encounter on SuperSport TV’s series about Orlando Pirates, known as “Bucs Camp,” providing a glimpse into the unsettling experience. 

“I went to the petrol station to buy bread. After getting bread and an energy drink I went to the car… 

“And when I arrived at the car I could feel there was someone behind me,” said Pule. 

“After opening the door, someone grabbed me and told me to come with him and when they took me, I asked them to leave my partner and child alone. 

“They took me and put me in their car, and they drove around with me for the whole night.”

Pule was released after five-hour ordeal

After roughly five hours, Pule was released, but he didn’t mention if anything of his was taken.

He ended up in Soweto and somehow made his way to a nearby gas station, where he eventually got some help.

“Initially I was sitting in the back seat but they moved me to the boot. I was in the boot for about five to six hours and they left me in the woods in Soweto at about 1am.

“I don’t know anyone in Soweto, but I had to make a plan to find my way back home.

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“The other thing that helped me was that I was not too frightened, I didn’t think I was going to make it back home if I was frightened.

“I ran and after a while started seeing cars and went in the direction of the cars until I found a petrol station. 

“Luckily an Uber driver arrived, and I asked him to take me home, which he did. 

“He initially could not recognise me, but after a while he saw who I was and agreed to help me.