A promising young soccer player, Tovhowani Mashaba (22), was laid to rest at Kutama cemetery on Saturday.

He played for Zamenkomste FC, who campaign in the Safa Vhembe SAB league. Mashaba died last Monday after a short illness.

“This is a huge shock and totally unexpected. We mourn his death,” said the manager of the team, Mr Bushy Mphaphuli. According to him, Mashaba was an energetic young player who was enjoying football.

Mphaphuli said that the whole area was in deep mourning and the mood was very sombre. Local soccer fanatics will remember him for scoring brilliant goals, as well as for excellent goalkeeping when needed.

A representative of Makhado Local Football and Safa Vhembe, Mr Ndoda Muvhango, expressed his condolences to the grieving family. “Tovhowani’s death is not only loss to his family, but to the whole community and the soccer family as whole. It is sad that he passed away while he still had a lot to contribute to football,” Muvhango said.

Ms Phumudzo Mashaba, sister of the deceased, said the incident had left them with many unanswered questions. She said all the members of the family were heartbroken. “There are things that we as human beings cannot change. We all have to accept those things and go on with life,” she said.