Former AmaZulu midfielder Mduduzi Nxele has been found dead in Phoenix, Durban.
According to sources, Nxele was tied on his legs and hands and was found dead hanging in his house in Phoenix, a few days ago.
He will be laid to rest this coming weekend, sources added.
The 40-year-old played for the majority of clubs in KwaZulu-Natal, starting at Usuthu, then Golden Arrows, Durban Stars, Thanda Royal Zulu and United FC, with the latter club being his last until July 2011.
Nxele was promoted through the youth development of AmaZulu via their former star player Joel Faya.
PSL all-time record goal scorer Siyabonga Nomvethe, who was the neighbour of Nxele in KwaMashu, was devastated by the sad passing of Nxele.
“Nxele was a good player, full of respect because we come from the same township – KwaMashu,” said Nomvethe to SSNEWS
“I’m from C section, as you know, while he’s from B, close to Joel Faya’s house. To hear such painful news, it came as a surprise because it was not something I expected.
“This brutality of him being killed like this, it is painful because I don’t remember him as a person who was troublesome because he was a football player.”
Nomvete said Nxele had a little boy who had aspirations to play for AmaZulu in future.
“I spoke to him about bringing his young boy to AmaZulu to try his luck for trials during the off-season because we don’t have space for trials when the season of the DDC is on,” added Bhele.
Nhlakanipho Mkhize, who also played for AmaZulu, Zulu Royal (AmaZulu’s previous name), Nathi Lions and Kaizer Chiefs, also paid tribute to Nxele, saying he was close to cross the floor to join the over-35 team that plays their games in Redhill in weekends.
“He was someone I was close with, although we haven’t been in contact with each other for some time,” said Mkhize.
“But we used to play the games of over 35 and they called me recently to come and play at Redhill and leave the guys I was playing for in Isipingo. So his passing is very sad.”
Nxele was set to be the Ambassador of Amazulu Football Club but his death made things to not be easy,but the Amazulu Chairman Sandile Zungu Said that he will donate R1 million to the Nxele family so that he can show that Nxele was one of the best Amazulu Players when they were at the National First Division.
