Former SuperSport United defender Gareth Orritt dies in car crash aged 52

Former SuperSport United defender Gareth Orritt has died in a car accident in South Africa’s Western Cape, prompting an outpouring of tributes from former teammates and figures across the country’s football community.

The 52-year-old enjoyed a decade-long professional career, representing Wits University, Pretoria City and SuperSport United, where he helped the club secure its first major trophy.

Orritt made 134 top-flight starts and scored nine goals, with his final strike coming against Kaizer Chiefs.

He is best remembered for his role in SuperSport’s 1999 Bob Save Super Bowl triumph – now known as the Nedbank Cup – when the Pretoria side beat Chiefs 2-1 at Soccer City through goals from Thomas Madigage and Glen Salmon.

Career built on resilience

Orritt made his senior debut for Wits University under coach Terry Paine shortly after his 19th birthday in a 1-0 win over Vaal Professionals in March 1993.

A year later, he joined Pretoria City, enduring relegation before helping the club earn an immediate return to the top flight in 1995.

His reunion with Paine continued when Pretoria City’s franchise was acquired by SuperSport, where Orritt enjoyed the finest spell of his career under coach Roy Matthews.

During the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons, he became a near ever-present in defence while contributing eight goals, several from the penalty spot.

Earlier in his career, Orritt also featured in Pretoria City’s run to the Bob Save Super Bowl final, where the second-tier side narrowly lost 3-2 to Cape Town Spurs.

Retirement and family legacy

Orritt left SuperSport in 2001 for a brief spell with Tembisa-based Classic before retiring while still in his late 20s.

Before establishing himself in South Africa, he had trials with English club Burnley and Dutch side NAC Breda.

Football ran deep in the Orritt family. His father, Bryan Orritt, was one of several British footballers who moved to South Africa, earning the country’s Foreign Footballer of the Year award in 1967 after starring for Southern Suburbs. He also played for Durban United, Rangers and Berea Park, where he later became coach.

Gareth Orritt is survived by his wife, Lauren, and their sons, Ethan and Noah.