Jayden Adams: South Africa mourns ‘complete midfielder’ as Senong and Mhlongo lead tributes

South African football is in mourning ahead of Jayden Adams’ funeral on 25 July, with former Bafana Bafana assistant coach Thabo Senong and ex-Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo among those paying tribute to a midfielder they believe was taken far too soon.

Adams, who rose from youth football to shine for Stellenbosch FC before moving to Mamelodi Sundowns and breaking into the Bafana Bafana squad, has been remembered both for his technical quality and his resilience in the face of setbacks.

Senong, who worked closely with the player, said Adams’ reading of the game marked him out as a rare talent in South African midfield play.

“The only thing I will always remember about Jayden Adams is just his excellent peripheral vision,” Senong said.

“He can see every part of the field during the match. He could pass the ball anywhere, be it the medium pass, long pass, switch play. His positional sense to be able to rotate with his partner midfielders. One advances, he drops. He advances, the other one drops. He was such a complete midfielder.”

Senong added that this intelligence and versatility in midfield allowed Adams to slot into different systems and partnerships with ease, helping him become one of the country’s leading central players.

From Stellenbosch to Sundowns and Bafana Bafana

Those attributes underpinned Adams’ rise at Stellenbosch FC, where his performances in the engine room earned him a move to the star-studded Mamelodi Sundowns squad and a regular role in the Bafana Bafana setup.

His transfer to Sundowns, however, initially divided opinion. With the reigning champions boasting a deep and competitive squad, doubts were raised over whether the step up had come too early.

Even national team coach Hugo Broos voiced public concern that Adams might struggle for minutes in Tshwane, warning that limited game time could hinder the youngster’s development and jeopardise his place in the Bafana Bafana squad.

In the early stages of his Sundowns career, those fears appeared justified. Adams found it difficult to secure a consistent starting berth and eventually slipped out of the national team picture, prompting suggestions that the move had stalled his progress.

‘He fought his way back’

For Mhlongo, though, that challenging period came to define Adams’ character more than any smooth ascent ever could.

“I think when I speak about Jayden Adams, I will always take my hat off for him,” Mhlongo said.

“Especially for taking up the challenge. The move from obviously playing Engen Knockout Challenge, going to the DDC, going to the first team at Stellenbosch. And while everyone was still looking at his progression, then he took up the challenge to go to Mamelodi Sundowns and everyone was like, ‘Where is he going?’ I also remember even the national team coach, Coach Hugo Broos, was against that move to say he’s not going to play.”

Instead of allowing the doubts to derail him, Adams responded with determination, according to Mhlongo.

“He fought. He fought. He fought his way,” he continued.

“At some point, he got dropped from the national team and he fought his way back for him to win CAF, to go to the FIFA World Cup, to win the league at some point.

“Huge achievement, huge accomplishment. And I will always respect him for great character. Many players will shy away from the challenge. At a very young age, he took up the challenge and it showed the pedigree and the mentality that he had.”

‘A huge loss at such a young age’

Beyond his on-field performances, Senong stressed the profound sense of grief being felt across the South African game following Adams’ death.

“It is a huge loss for the passing of the late Jayden. I can imagine how his family are now at the moment. So we can only say condolences to the families and friends, his colleagues, the clubs, Stellenbosch, Mamelodi Sundowns, everyone affected, Bafana Bafana, the entire football nation. May his soul continue to rest in peace. It’s such a huge loss at such a young age.”

As the football community prepares to say its final goodbye on 25 July, Adams is being remembered as a technically gifted, tactically astute and mentally strong midfielder whose career, in the eyes of those who knew him, had only just begun to fulfil its promise.