Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Michael Nkambule dies aged 37 after car accident

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Michael Nkambule has died at the age of 37 after suffering injuries in a car accident more than a week ago.

Nkambule passed away on Friday, 7 August, after being involved in a crash while travelling back to Johannesburg from a football event in Polokwane. He was alone in the vehicle at the time and had been receiving hospital treatment since the accident.

The death was confirmed to iDiski Times by Lebo Ditlhake, chairman and founder of Ditlhake Masters FC, after he received the news from one of Nkambule’s team-mates.

Ditlhake declined to comment further as those close to the player come to terms with the sudden loss of one of Etwatwa, Daveyton’s most loved football sons.

Nkambule began attracting attention at a very young age. At 15, he earned a move to French club Strasbourg following a successful trial with the club’s Under-18 side.

He made an immediate impression during that trial, coming on as a substitute and contributing one goal and two assists.

However, Nkambule was unable to establish himself in Strasbourg’s first team. He subsequently returned to South Africa and spent time on loan with the now-defunct SuperSport United.

In 2007, he rejoined Amakhosi, the nickname used for Kaizer Chiefs. His time with the club ended three years later when his contract was terminated.

Nkambule made 10 appearances for Kaizer Chiefs and recorded one assist during his spell with the club.

After his professional career, he remained involved in football and was a team-mate at Ditlhake Masters FC at the time of his death. The club is based in the community with which he was closely associated, and his passing has been met with sadness among those who knew him.

Nkambule’s death comes after the recent accident left him in hospital for more than a week. His family, friends and former team-mates are now mourning his loss.

iDiski Times has extended its condolences to the Nkambule family, his friends and his team-mates at Ditlhake Masters FC during what it described as a difficult period of mourning.

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